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SIR GEORGE COLLIER. 

C&PTMS OF THE RaISUOW. 



THE 



NARRATIVE 



John'Blatchford, 



DETAILING 



His sufferings in the Revolutionary War, while a Prisoner 
with the British. 

AS RELATED BY HIMSELF. 



AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES, 



CHARLES I. BUSHXELL. 




4 






' Of •//; 



NEW YORK: 

PRIVATELY PRINTED. 
1 8 G 5 . 
\ 






Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by 

CHARLES I. BUSHNELL, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the 
Southern District of New York. 



TO 



CAPT. JOHN BLATCHFORD, 



OF ROCKPOKT, MASS., 



ELDEST SURVIVING SON OF THE 



HERO OF THIS NARRATIVE, 



THIS TRACT 



IS RESPECTFULLY 



DEDICATED. 



INTRODUCTION. 




OHN BLATCHFORD, the hero of this 
narrative, was the son of John Blatchford, 
of Sandy Bay, now Rockport, on Cape Ann, 
in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, and 
was born about the year 1*162. 

' After receiving a very limited education, he was brought 
up to the occupation of a fisherman, which employment he 
pursued until the month of June, 1177, when, being about 
fifteen years of age, he enlisted as a cabin-boy on board the 
Hancock, a continental ship, commanded by Capt. John 
Manly. 

On the 8th day of July following, the Hancock was cap- 
tured by the British ship Rainbow, Sir George Collier, and 
her crew taken to Halifax and imprisoned. After being 
immured there awhile, and treated with great severity, our 



IV INTRODUCTION. 

hero was sent to England, and soon after his arrival there 
was put on board an Indiaman, and transported with eighty- 
two other Americans to the East Indies, where he was 
compelled first to do duty as a soldier, and then to work in 
the pepper gardens belonging to the East India Company. 
He eventually, with great risk and after great suffering, 
effected his escape, and ultimately reached Guadaloupe, 
one of the West India Islands, where he took passage 
for Philadelphia ; but misfortune again befell him, for 
while on his way thither, he was captured by the enemy, 
taken to New York, and put on board the prison ship 
" Jersey." After remaining in this wretched hulk about 
a week, he was sent in a cartel to France, whence in 
course of time he returned home, after an absence of 
almost six years, having, during his long imprisonment, 
endured the severest hardships and privations, experi- 
enced the most barbarous treatment from the hands of 
the British, and made several narrow escapes from 
death, not only from the bayonet, but from hunger 
and disease, and likewise from the attack of savage 
beasts of prey. 

Soon after his return, he married Anna, the daughter of 
Nehemiah Grover, a farmer by occupation, and a respectable 
landholder. Mr. Blatchford resumed the avocation of a 
fisherman, which he followed for a short time, and then took 



INTRODUCTION. V 

to the seas for a livelihood, making many voyages to foreign 
countries. He died at Port au Prince, in the West Indies, 
about the year 1794, and was buried in that town. He 
left surviving him his widow, and also two sons and one 
daughter, to mourn their untimely loss. 

In his stature, our hero was about medium height. 
He had broad shoulders, full chest, and well-proportioned 
limbs. His complexion was sallow, his eyes dark, and 
his hair black and curly. He was temperate in his 
habits, dignified in his deportment, and though possessed 
of great muscular power and most undaunted courage, 
he was, nevertheless, peaceful in his disposition and slow 
to anger. 

The narrative of his adventures while a prisoner, was 
undoubtedly prepared from dictation. It is an interesting, 
romantic, and in many respects, an extraordinary docu- 
ment. It is remarkable for the series of misfortunes 
which befell its hero, and as a record of malignant spite 
and savage brutality on the part of the British, is almost 
unparalleled in the annals of history. 

It was originally published in New London in 1188, and 
was issued in pamphlet form. In the year 1797, a lengthy 
abstract appeared in the columns of Freneau's "Time Piece," 
a paper published in the city of ]S T ew York. In July, 1860, 
the entire production was printed in the " Cape Ann 



VI 



INTRODUCTION. 



Gazette," and the demand for copies having far exceeded 
the edition, it was reproduced in the same paper in the 
month of October following. We will further state that 
the present edition has been printed from a certified copy, 
which through the courtesy of the Massachusetts Historical 
Society, we were permitted to have made from one of the 
original tracts now in its possession. 




Pill 




NARRATIVE 

OF 

Remarkable Occurrences, 

In the Life of 

John Blatchford, 

Of Cape-Ann, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 

CONTAINING, 

His treatment in Nova- Scotia — the West Indies — Great- 
Britain — France, and the East-Indies, as a prisoner in 
the late war. 

Taken from his own mouth. 



NEW LONDON: Printed by T. Green. 

M,DCC,LXXX,VIII. 
[With the privilege of Copy- Right] 




NARRATIVE. 




( N June, 1777, I shipped myself as 
cabin-boy on board the Continental 
ship Hancock, (i) John Manly, 
Esq. (2) commander, being then in 
the 15th year of my age, and a 
few days after sailed on a cruize. 
Being out some days we fell in with 
and took the Fox, (1) a British frigate 
of 28 guns, after an engagement of 
four glasses. Our captain sent on board 
the prize as many men as we could spare, 
and both ships kept company several days, 
till on the 8th of July we fell in with the British 
ships Rainbow (*) of 40 guns, and Flora (5) of 32 guns 



10 NARRATIVE. 

(who had in company the brig Cabot (o) of 16 guns 
which had just before been taken by the Milford 
British frigate) (7) by whom we were both taken (s) 
and carried into Halifax. 

I was kept prisoner among a number of my 
countrymen, on board the Rainbow, until we arrived 
at Halifax, (a) On our arrival there we were taken 
on shore and confined in a prison which had for- 
merly been a sugar house. (10) — The large number 
of prisoners confined in this house (near 300) 
together with a scanty allowance of provisions, 
occasioned it to be very sickly. So irksome a situa- 
tion put us upon meditating an escape — but we 
could form no plan that was likely to be attended 
with success, till George Barnard, who had been a 
midshipman in the Hancock, and who was confined 
in the same room with myself, concerted a plan to 
release us, which was to be effected by diging a 
small passage under ground, to extend to a garden 
that was behind the prison and without the prison 
wall, where we might make a breach in the night 
with safety, and probably all obtain our liberty. — 
This plan greatly elated our spirits, and we were all 
anxious to proceed immediately in executing of it. 



NARRATIVE. 11 

Our cabins were built one above another, from 
the floor to the height of a man's head ; and mine 
being one of those built on the floor, was pitched 
upon to be taken up : — this being clone, six of us 
agreed to do the work, whose names were, George 
Barnard and William Atkins of Boston, (late mid- 
shipmen in the Hancock), Lemuel Fowle of Cape- 
Ann, Isaiah Churchill of Plimouth, Asa Cole of 
Weathersfield, and myself. "We took up the cabin 
and cut a hole in the plank underneath. 

The sugar-house stood upon a foundation of stone 
which raised the floor four feet above the ground, 
and gave us sufficient room to work and to convey 
away the dirt that we dug up. 

The instruments which we had to work with were 
one scraper, one long spike, and some sharp sticks ; 
with these we proceeded in our difficult undertaking. 
As the hole was too small to admit of more than one 
person to work at a time, we dug by turns ten or 
twelve days, and carried the dirt in our bosoms to 
another end of the cellar ; by this time we supposed 
we had dug far enough, and word was given out 
among the prisoners to prepare themselves for flight. 
But while we were in the midst of gaiety, congratu- 



12 NARRATIVE. 

lating each other upon our happy prospects, we 
were basely betrayed by one of our own country- 
men whose name was Knowles : he had been a 
midshipman on board the Boston frigate, (n) and 
was put on board the Fox when she was taken by 
the Hancock and Boston. — What could have induced 
him to commit so vile an action cannot be con- 
ceived, as no advantage could accrue to him from 
our detection, and death was the certain conse- 
quence to many of his miserable countrymen — that 
it was so, is all I can say. A few hours before we 
were to have attempted our escape, Knowles 
informed the sergeant of the guard (Mr. Bible) of 
our design ; and by his treachery lost his country 
the lives of more than a hundred valuable citizens — 
fathers and husbands — whose return would have 
rejoiced the hearts of now weeping fatherless chil- 
dren, and called forth tears of joy from wives, now 
helpless and disconsolate widows — When we were 
discovered, the whole guard was ordered into the 
room ; and being informed by Knowles who it was 
that performed the work, we were all six confined 
in irons — the hole was filled up, and a centinel con- 
stantly placed in the room, to prevent any further 






NARRATIVE. 13 

attempt. — We were all kept in close confinement 
till two of my fellow-sufferers Barnard and Cole, 
died ; one of which was put into the ground with 
his irons on his hands. (12) I was afterwards per- 
mitted to walk the yard. But as my irons were too 
small and caused my hands to swell, and made 
them very sore, I asked the sergeant to take them 
off and give me larger ones, — he being a person of 
humanity, and compassionating my sufferings, 
changed my irons for others that were larger, and 
more easy to my hands. 

Knowles, who was likewise permitted to walk the 
yard, for his perfidy, would take every opportunity 
to insult and mortify me, by asking me whether I 
wanted to run away again ? and when I was going 
home, &c? — His daily affronts, together with his 
conduct in betraying of his countrymen, so exas- 
perated me, that I wished for nothing more than for 
an opportunity to convince him that I did not love 
him. — One day as he was tantalizing over me as 
usual, I suddenly drew one hand out of my irons, 
flew at him and struck him in the face, knocked out 
two or three of his teeth, and bruised his mouth 
very much. He cried out, that the prisoner had 



14 NARRATIVE. 

got loose, — but before any assistance came, I had 
put my hand again into the hand-cuff, and was 
walking about the yard as usual. "When the guard 
came, they demanded of me in what manner I 
struck him ? I told them with both my hands. 

They then tried to pull my hands out, but could 
not, and concluded it must be as I had said ; — some 
laughed and some were angry — but in the end I 
was ordered again into prison. The next day I was 
sent on board the Greyhound frigate, («) capt. Dick- 
son, (11) bound on a cruize in Boston-bay. After 
being out a few days, we met with a severe gale of 
wind, in which we sprung our main-mast and 
received considerable other damage. We were 
then obliged to bear away for the West-Indies, and 
on our passage fell in with and took a brig from 
Norwich, laden with stock, &c. The captain and 
hands were put on board a Danish vessel the same 
day. We carried the brig into Antigua,* where we 
immediately repaired, and were ordered in company 
with the Vulture sloop of war (is) to convoy a fleet 
of merchantmen to New- York. We left the fleet 
off Sandy-Hook, and sailed for Philadelphia, where 
* One of the "West India islands, Leeward Group. 



NARRATIVE. 15 

we lay till we were made a packet and ordered for 
Halifax with dispatches. "We had a quick passage, 
and arrived safe. "While we lay in the road, 
admiral Byron (10) arrived* in the Princess Royal (n) 
from England, who being short of men, and we hav- 
ing a surplusage for a packet, many of our men 
were ordered on board the Princess-Royal, and 
among them most of our boat's crew. 

Soon after, some of the officers going on shore, I 
was ordered into the boat. — We landed at the 
Governor's-slip — it being then near night. This 
was the first' time since I had been on board the 
Greyhound that I had had an opportunity to escape 
from her, as they were before this particularly care- 
ful of me ; therefore I was determined to get away 
then if possible, and to effect it I waded round a 
wharf and went up a by-way, (fearing I should 
meet the officers) : I soon got into the street and 
made the best of my way towards Irishtown,f where 
I expected to be safe ; — but unfortunately while 
running, I was met and stopped by an emissary, 

* Admiral Byron arrived at Halifax, August 26, 1778. 
t The southern suburbs of Halifax, chiefly inhabited by the 
Trish population. 



16 NARRATIVE. 

who demanded of me my business, and where I was 
going ? I endeavoured to deceive him, that he 
might let me pass ; but it was in vain — he ordered 
me to follow him : — 

I offered him what money I had (about £ sterl.) 
to let me go — this too was ineffectual. I then told 
him I was an American and making my escape 
from a long confinement, and was determin'd to 
pass, and took up a stone. He immediately drew 
his bayonet* and ordered me to go back with 
him. — 1 refused, and told him to keep his distance. — 
He then run upon me, and pushing his 'bayonet into 
my side, it came out near my navel ; but the wound 
was not very deep ; — he then made a second pass, 
and stabbed me through my arm : he was about to 
stab me a third time, when I struck him with the 
stone and knocked him down. I then run, but the 
guard which had been alarmed, immediately took 
me, and carried me before the governor (Hughes) (i*) 
where I understood the man was dead. I was 

* Bayonets were invented at Bayonne, in France, 1670, and 
received their name from the town where they were invented. 
They were first used hy the English, Sept. 24, 1093, and super- 
seded the pike completely under William III. 



NARRATIVE. IT 

threatened with every kind of death, and ordered 
out of the governor's presence. 

Whilst in confinement I was informed by a young 
gentleman (who was to be sent to England and 
tried for killing a man in a duel) that it was not in 
the power of the Governor to try me ; but that I 
should be sent to England ; which I found to be 
true. The next day I was sent on board the Grey- 
hound, the ship I had run from, and we sailed for 
England. Our captain being a humane man, 
ordered my irons off, a few days after we sailed, and 
permitted me to do duty as formerly. Being out 
thirteen days we spoke the Hazard (is) sloop of war, 
who inform'd that the French fleet was then cruising 
in the English channel : (20) — for this reason we put 
into Cork, and the dispatches were forwarded to 
England. — While we lay in the Cove of Cork,* I 
jumped overboard, with intention of getting away ; 
but unfortunately I was discovered and fired at by 
the marines : the boat was immediately sent after 

* A seaport town in Ireland, now called Queenstown — so 
named by the sycophantic inhabitants of the place, in honor of 
the Queen's visit there in 1849. The old classic name was 
infinitely preferable. 



18 NARRATIVE. 

me, took me up and carried me on board again. 
At this time almost all the officers were on shore, 
and the ship was left in charge of the sailing-master, 
one Drummond, who beat me most cruelly ; — to get 
out of his way I run forward — he followed me, and 
as I was running back he came up with me and 
threw me down the mainhold.* The fall, together 
with the beating, was so severe that I was deprived 
of my senses for a considerable time ; when I 
recovered them I found myself in the carpenter's 
birth, placed upon some old canvass, between two 
chests, having my right thigh, leg and arm broken, 
and several parts of my body severely bruised. 
In this situation I lay eighteen days, till our 
officers, (who had been on business to Dublin) 
came on board. The captain enquired for the 
prisoner, and being informed of my situation, came 
down with the doctor to set my bones, but find- 
ing them callussed they concluded not to meddle 
with me. 

The ship lay at Cork till the French fleet left the 

* That part of a ship just before the main mast, and which 
generally contained the fresh water and beer for the use of the 
ship's company. 



NARRATIVE. • 19 

channel, and then sailed for Spithead.* — On onr 
arrival there I was sent in irons on board the Prin- 
cess-Amelia, (21) and the next clay was carried on 
board the Britannia (") in Portsmouth f harbour, to 
be tried before Sir Thomas Pye, (23) lord high 
admiral of England, and president of the court- 
martial. 

Before the officers had collected, I was put under 
the care of a centinel ; and the seamen and women 
who came on board compassionated my sufferings, 

which rather heightened than diminished my dis- 
tress. I was sitting under the awning, almost over- 
powered by the reflection of my unhappy situation, 
every moment expecting to be summoned for my 
trial, when I heard somebody enquiring for the 
prisoner — supposing it to be an officer, I rose up 
and answered, that I was there. The gentleman 
came to me, told me to be of good chear, and taking 
out a bottle of cordial bid me drink, which I did : — 

* A celebrated roadstead off the southern coast of England, 
one of the principal rendezvous of the British navy, so secure 
from all winds except the S. E., as to have been termed by 
sailors " the king's bed-chamber." 

t A fortified seaport town, and the principal naval station 
of England. 



20 • NARRATIVE. 

he then enquired where I belonged — 1 informed 
him — he asked me if I had parents living, and if I 
had any friends in England ? — I answered I had 
neither : he then assured me he was my friend, and 
would render me all the assistance in his power. — 
He then enquired of me every circumstance relative 
to my fray with the man at Halifax, for whose 
death I was now to be tried ; — and instructed me 
what to say on my trial, — told me if it was asked in 
court " if I had any friend or attorney to speak for 
me," to look at such a corner of the state-room, 
where I should see him, and to answer the court 
" Yes, Mr. Thomas," for that was the gentleman's 
name. All this was spoken in so friendly a manner, 
that I could not distrust him, although what he had 
instructed me to say, appeared to me, would be 
against myself. 

The court having assembled, I was called in and 
examined partly, and on being asked " If I had any 
friend to speak in my behalf," I looked round, and 
saw Mr. Thomas, and answered, "Yes, Mr. Thomas," 
who then came forward. — The court asked him what 
he had to say in behalf of the prisoner ? — On which 
he desired them to question the prisoner, and if he 



NARRATIVE. 21 

could not answer sufficiently, he would speak for 
him. I was then asked if I meant to kill the man. 
I answered as instructed (tho' loth) that I did. 
The court seemed surpriz'd and asked me the 
question again, and I again answered, Yes. I was 
then asked if I should have hurt the man had he 
not molested me ? I replied, No. — I was then 
asked many other questions, and if I was not sorry 
I had undertaken in the rebellion against my 
king? — Mr. Thomas then spoke, and said it was 
hardly fair to ask me such a question upon this 
occasion ; and that considering my youth, I had 
given as fair an account of myself as could be 
expected. — He spoke a considerable time on the 
subject, and concluded with comparing our combat 
to a field battle between two armies — expatiated 
largely and explained the subject so clearly that 
no answer was made to his arguments. — I was 
ordered to withdraw, and waited with painful 
impatience to know my destiny. — This was re- 
peated two or three times, till at last I was called 
in and acquitted of the murder, and was informed 
that I was to be sent back to Halifax, to be 
exchanged as a prisoner of war. I cannot express 



22 NARRATIVE. 

my feelings on this occasion, and no one can 
know them, but by experiencing the same reverse 
of fortune. 

I immediately found my benefactor and returned 
him thanks, with gratitude for his friendly and 
benevolent assistance. Mr. Thomas then asked the 
liberty of taking me on shore with him, engaging 
to return me the next day — and liberty was granted 
him. — He told a young lad, his son, to walk with 
me about Portsmouth, and shew me the town, and 
then to carry me home to his house ; which he did. 
In the evening Mr. Thomas came into the kitchin 
and asked me to walk into the parlour, to satisfy 
the curiosity of some ladies, who had never seen a 
Yankee, as they called me : I went in, and they 
seemed greatly surprized to see me look like an 
Englishman ; they said they were sure I was no 
Yankee, but like themselves. The idea they had 
formed of the Americans was nearly the same as we 
have of the natives of this country. "When the 
ladies had satisfied their curiosity, Mr. Thomas put 
a guinea into his hat, and carrying it round asked 
the ladies to contribute for the poor Yankee : he 
then gave me the money, (about four guineas.) 



NARRATIVE. 23 

The next morning I was sent on board the 
Princess- Amelia, where I spent a joyful day ; 
expecting soon to be sent on board the Greyhound, 
which was bound to Halifax. 

In the evening I heard a boat coming along-side, 
and supposing it to belong to the Greyhound, (as 
the people in the boat enquired for me) — I made 
haste and jumped into the boat ; but to my extreme 
disappointment and grief, I was carried on board 
an Indiaman, and immediately put down into the 
run,* where I was confined seven days. I begged 
that I might send word on shore to my former 
benefactor, and inform him of my situation, but 
they would not grant it. On the seventh day, 
I heard the boatswain pipe all hands, and about 
noon I was called up on deck, when I found 
myself on board the Princess-Eoyal (24) indiaman, 
captain Robert Kerr ; — we were then off the 
Isle of Wight, bound to the East-Indies, in com- 
pany with six others, viz. the Ceres, Hawke, 
Prince, Sandwich, Walpole and True-Briton, all 

* The run of a sliip is that part of her hull under water 
which conies narrower by degrees from the floor timbers 
to the sternposts. 



24 NARRATIVE. 

large ships, (as) belonging to the East-India com- 
pany. («) 

Our captain told me, if I behaved well and did 
my duty, I should receive as good usage as any man 
on board : — this gave me great encouragement. I 
now found my destiny was fixed — that whatever I 
could do, would not in the least alter my situation, 
and therefore was determined to do the best I could, 
and make myself as contented as my unfortunate 
situation would admit. 

After being on board several days, I found there 
were in the Princess-Royal, eighty-two Americans, 
all destined to the East-Indies, for being what they 
called Rebels. (27) 

We had a passage of seventeen weeks to St. 
Helena, where we put in and landed part of our 
cargo, (which consisted wholly of provisions), and 
some of the soldiers who were brought out for that 
island. The ship lay here about three weeks ; we 
then sailed for Batavia* — and on the passage 
touched at the Cape of Good-Iiope,f where we 

* Capital and seaport town of the island of Java. 
t The Cape of Good Hope was first discovered by Bartholo- 
mew Diaz, 1486 — first doubled by Vasco de Gama, 1497 — 



NARRATIVE. 25 

found the whole of the fleet that sailed with us from 
England — we took in some provisions and neces- 
saries and set sail for Batavia, where we arrived in 
ten weeks. Here we purchased a large quantity of 
arrack and remained a considerable time. 

We then sailed for Bencoolen, * in the island of 
Snmatria, and after a passage of about six weeks 
arrived there, (this was in June 1780). At this 
place the Americans were all carried on shore ; and 
I found that I was no longer to remain on board the 
ship, but condemned to serve as a soldier for five 
years. — 1 offered to bind myself to the captain for 
five years, or any longer term, if I might serve on 
board the ship : — he told me it was impossible for 
me to be released from acting as a soldier, unless I 
could pay fifty pounds sterling. As I was unable 
to do this, I was obliged to go through the manual 
exercise with the other prisoners ; among whom 
was William Randall of Boston, and Josiah Folgier 
of Nantucket, both young men, and one of them an 

planted by Holland, 1651— taken by the British, 1795— again 
in 1806, and definitely ceded to Great Britain, 1814. 

I Bencouloo, corruptly called Bencoolen, is on the S. W. 
coast of the island of Sumatra. The chief trade is pepper. 



26 NARRATIVE. 

old ship-mate of mine ; — these two and myself 
agreed to behave as ignorant and aukward as pos- 
sible ; and what motions we learned one day we 
were to forget the next. — We pursued this conduct 
near a fortnight, and were beaten every clay by the 
drill-sergeant, who exercised us ; and when he found 
we were determined in our obstinacy, and that it 
was not possible for him to learn us anything, we 
were all three sent .into the pepper gardens belong- 
ing to the East-India company, and continued 
picking peppers from morning till night, and 
allowed but two scanty meals a day ; — this, together 
with the amazing heat of the sun, (the island lying 
under the equator) was too much for an American 
constitution, unused to a hot climate, and we 
expected that we should soon end our misery and 
our lives ; — but Providence still preserved us for 
greater hardships.* 

* Sumatria is an island of the Indian ocean, situated between 
93 and 104 degrees of East longitude, and between 5 degrees 
and 30 minutes North and 5 degrees and 30 minutes South 
latitude ; extending from N. W. to S. E. 900 miles long, and 
from 100 to 150 broad, separated from the continent of the 
Further India by the straits of Malacca on the N. E. and from 
the island of Java by the straits of Sunda on the S. E. This 



NARRATIVE. 27 

The Americans died daily with heat and hard fare, 
which determined my two companions and myself 
in an endeavour to make our escape. — We had been 
in the pepper gardens four months when an oppor- 
tunity offered, and we resolved upon trying our 
fortune ; — Folgier, Randall and myself sat out with 
an intention of reaching Croy, (a small harbour 
where the Dutch often touch at to water) on the 
opposite side of the island. — Folgier had by some 
means got a bayonet, which lie fixed on the end of 
a stick — Randall and myself had nothing but staves, 
which were all the weapons we carried with us. 
We provided ourselves with fire- works* for our 
journey, which w T e pursued unmolested till the 
fourth clay j list at night, when we heard a rustling 
in the bushes and discovered nine seapoys, (country- 
born soldiers in the British service) who suddenly 
rushed out upon us. 

Folgier being the most resolute of us, run at one 

island lying under the equator, and the low grounds near the 
sea-coast heing flooded one-half of the year, is very unhealth- 
ful. The natives build most of their houses upon pillars, to 
secure them against the annual inundations. 

(This note was in the original edition. — Ed.) 

* Tinder box and accompaniments for striking fire. 



28 NARRATIVE. 

of them and pushed his bayonet through his body 
into a tree ; Randall knocked down another ; — but 
they overpowered us, bound us, and carried us back 
to the fort, which we reached in one day and half, 
though we had been four days travelling from it, 
owing to the circle we made by going round the 
shore ; and thej 7 came across the woods, being 
acquainted with the way. Immediately on our 
arrival at the fort the governor* called a court- 
martial, to have us tried. — We were soon all con- 
demned to be shot the next morning at seven 
o'clock, and ordered to be sent into the dungeon 
and confined in irons, where we were attended by 
an adjutant who brought a priest with him to pray 
and converse with us ; — but Folgier, who hated the 
name and sight of an Englishman, desired that we 
might be left alone, and not be troubled with any 
company : — the clergyman reprimanded him, and 
told him he made very light of his situation, on 
supposition that he would be reprieved ; but if he 
expected it he deceived himself: — Folgier still per- 
sisted in the clergyman's leaving of us, if he would 

* The governor of Fort Marlborough at this time was 
William Broff, Esq. He held the position from 1772 to 1783. 



NARRATIVE. 29 

have us make our peace with God ; for, said he, the 
sight of Englishmen, from whom we have received 
such treatment, is more disagreeable than the evil 
spirits of whom you have spoken : — that if he could 
have his choice, he would choose death in preference 
to life, if he must have it on conditions of such bar- 
barous usage as he had received from their hands ; 
and that the thoughts of death did not seem so 
hideous to him as his past sufferings. lie visited 
us again about midnight, but finding his company 
was not acceptable, he soon left us to our own 
melancholy reflections. 

Before sun-rise we heard the drums beat, and 
soon after heard the direful noise of the door grating 
on its iron hinges — we were all taken out, our irons 
taken off, and we conducted by a strong guard of 
soldiers to the parade, surrounded by a circle of 
armed men, and led into the midst of them, where 
three white coffins were placed by our side : — silence 
was then commanded, and the adjutant taking a 
paper out of his pocket read our sentence : — and 
now I cannot describe my feelings upon this occa- 
sion, nor can it be felt > by any one but those who 
have experienced some remarkable deliverance from 



30 NARRATIVE. 

the grim hand of death, when surrounded on all 
sides, and nothing but death expected from every 
quarter, and by Divine Providence there is some 
way found out for escape — so it seemed to me when 
the adjutant pulled out another paper from his 
pocket and read, " that the governor and council, 
in consideration of the youth of Randall and myself, 
(supposing us to be led on by Folgier, who was the 
eldest) thought fit to pardon us from death, and 
that instead we were to receive eight hundred lashes 
each ;" — although this last sentence appeared terrible 
to me, yet in comparison with death, it seemed to 
be light. — Poor Folgier was shot in our presence — 
previous to which we were told we might go and 
converse with him — Randall went and talked with 
him first, and after him I went up to take my leave, 
but my feelings were such at the time that I had 
not power to utter a single word to my departing 
friend, who seemed as undaunted and seemingly as 
willing to die as I was willing to be released — and 
told me not to forget the promises we had formerly 
made each other, which was, to embrace the first 
opportunity to escape : — we parted, and he was 
immediately after shot dead. We were next taken 



NARRATIVE. 31 

and tied ; and the adjutant brought a small whip 
made of cotton, which consisted of a number of 
strands and knotted at the ends ; but these knots 
were all cut off by the adjutant before the drummer 
took it, which made it not worse than to have been 
whipt with cotton yarn. After being whipped 800 
lashes we were sent to the company hospital, where 
we had been about three weeks, when Randall told 
me he intended very soon to make his escape : — 
this somewhat surprized me, as I had lost all hopes of 
regaining my liberty, and supposed he had : — I told 
him I had hoped he would never mention it again ; 
but however, if that was his design I would accom- 
pany him. He advised me, (if I was fearful) to 
tarry behind ; — but finding he was determined on 
going, I resolved to run the risque once more ; and 
as we were then in the hospital we were not 
suspected of such a design. 

Having provided ourselves with fire-works and 
knives, about the first of December 1780, we sat 
out, with intention of reaching the Dutch settlement 
of Croy, which is but about two or three hundred 
miles distance upon a direct line, but as we were 
obliged to travel along the sea coast, (fearing to 



32 XAKKATIVE. 

risque the nearest way) it was a journey of eight 
hundred miles. We took each a stick and hung 
round our neck, and every day cut a notch, which 
was the method we took to keep time. — In this 
manner we travelled, living on fruit, turtle-eggs 
and some turtle, which we cooked every night with 
the fire we built to sleep by to secure us from wild 
beasts — they being here in great plenty, such as 
buffaloes, tigers, jackanapes, leopards, lions, baboons 
and monkies. On the 30th day of our travelling 
we met with nothing we could eat, and found no 
water — at night we found some fruit which appeared 
to the eye to be very delicious, (different from any 
we had seen in our travel) it resembled a fruit 
which grows in the "West-Indies, called a Jack, (2*) 
about the size of an orange : — we being very dry 
and hungry immediately gathered some of this 
fruit — but finding it of a sweet sickish taste I eat 
but two--Eandall eat freely:— in the evening we 
found we were poisoned : I was sick and puked 
considerably: — Randall was sick and began to swell 
all round his body ; he grew worse all night, but 
continued to have his senses till the next day, when 
he died, and left me to mourn my greater wretched- 






NARRATIVE. 33 

ness. — more than 400 miles from any settlement — 
no companion — the wide ocean on one side and a 
prowling wilderness on the other — liable to many 
hinds of deaths, more terrible than being shot. I 
laid down by Randall's body, wishing if possible 
that he might return and tell me what course to 
take. — My thoughts almost distracted me, so that I 
was unable to do anything til] the next day; during 
all which time I continued by the side of Randall — 
I then got up and made a hole in the sand and 
buried him. 

I now continued my jonrney as well as my weak 
state of body would permit ; — the weather being at 
this time extreme hot and rainy. — I frequently lay 
down and would wish that I might never rise 
again : — despair had almost wholly possessed me ; 
and sometimes in a kind of delirium would fancy I 
heard my mother's voice, and my friends calling 
me, and I would answer them : — at other times my 
wild imagination would paint to my view scenes 
which I was well acquainted with, then supposing 
myself near home I would run as fast as my 
feeble legs could carry me : — frequently I fancied 
that I heard dogs bark, men cutting wood, and 



34 NARRATIVE. 

every noise which I have heard in my native 
country. 

One day as I was travelling, a small dog, as I 
thought it to be, came fawning round me and 
followed me, but I soon discovered it to be a young 
lion ; — I supposed that its dam must be nigh, and 
therefore run ; it followed me sometime and then 
left me ; I proceeded on, but had not got far from 
it before it began to cry ; I looked round and saw a 
lioness making towards it — she yelled most fright- 
fully, which greatly terrified me ; but she laid down 
something from her mouth for her young one, and 
then with another yell turned and went off from me. 

Some days after, I was travelling by the edge of a 
woods, (which from its appearance had felt severely 
the effects of a tornado or hurricane, the trees being 
all torn up by the roots) and I heard a cracking 
noise in the bushes — looking about I saw a mon- 
strous large tiger making slowly towards me, which 
frightened me exceedingly ; when he had approached 
within a few rods of me, in my surprize I suddenly 
lifted up my hands and hollowed very loud : this 
sudden noise frightened him, seemingly as much as 
I had been, and he immediately turned and run 



NARRATIVE. 35 

into the woods, and I saw him no more. After this 
I continued travelling on without molestation, only 
from the monkies, who were here so plenty that 
oftentimes I saw them in large droves : sometimes I 
run from them as if afraid of them ; they would then 
follow, grin and chatter at me, and. when they got 
near I would turn, and they would run back into the 
woods, and climb the trees to get out of my way. 

It was now fifteen weeks since I had left the hos- 
pital — I had travelled most all the day without any 
water, and began to be very thirsty, when I heard 
the sound of running water, as it were down a fall 
of rocks — I had heard it a considerable time, and at 
last began to suspect it was nothing but imaginary, 
as many other noises I had before thought to have 
heard. I however went on as fast as I could, and 
at length discovered a brook — on approaching of it 
I was not a little surprized and rejoiced at the 
sight of a Female Indian, who was fishing at the 
brook : — she had no other dress on than that which 
mother nature affords impartially to all her children, 
except a small cloth which she wore round her 
waist, — I knew not how to address myself to her : — 
I was afraid if I spoke she would run— and there- 



36 NARRATIVE. 

fore I made a small noise ; upon which she looked 
round and, seeing me, run across the brook, seem- 
ingly much frightened, leaving her fishing-line. I 
went up to her basket which contained five or six 
fish that looked much like our trout. I took up the 
basket and attempted to wade across where she had 
passed, but was too weak to wade across in that 
place, and went further up the stream, where I 
passed over — and then looking for the indian woman 
I saw her at some distance behind a large cocoa-nut 
tree : — I walked towards her, but dare not keep my 
eyes steadily upon her lest she should run from me 
as she did before. — I called to her in English ; and 
she answered in her own tongue, which I could not 
understand. I then called to her in the Malays, 
which I understood a little of: — she answ r ered me 
in a kind of surprize, and asked me in the name of 
Oerum Footee (the name of their god) from whence 
I came, and where I was going? — I answered her 
as well as I could in the Melais, that I was from 
Fort Marlborough,* and going to Croy — that I was 

* A Factory which belonged to the British East India Co. on 
the western coast of the Island of Sumatra, 3 miles east of 
Benooolen. 



NARRATIVE. 37 

making my escape from the English, by whom 1 
had been taken in war. — She told me that she had 
been taken by the Malays some years before — for 
that the two nations were always at war ; and that 
she had been kept as a slave among them three 
years, and was then retaken by her countrymen. 
Whilst we were talking together she appeared to be 
very shy, and I durst not go nearer than a rod 
to her, lest she should run from me. She said that 
Croy, the place I was bound to, was about three 
miles distance — that if I would follow her she 
would conduct me to her countrymen who were but 
a small distance off. — I begged her to plead with her 
countrymen to spare my life, — she said she would, 
and assured me that if I behaved well I should not 
be hurt. She then conducted me to a small village, 
consisting of huts or wigwams. When we arrived 
at the village, the children that saw me were 
frightened and run away from me — and the women 
expressed a great deal of fear, and kept at a dis- 
tance — but my guide called to them and told them 
not to be afraid, for that I was not come to hurt 
them, and then informed them from whence I came, 
and that I was going to Croy. 



38 NAKKATIVE. 

I told my guide that I was very hungry — and she 
sent the children for something for me to eat ; — they 
came and brought me little round balls of boiled 
rice ; and they not daring to come nigh, threw them 
to me — these I picked up and eat ; afterwards a 
woman brought some rice and goats milk in a copper 
bason, and setting it on the ground, made signs for 
me to take it up and eat it, which I did, and then 
put the bason down again ; they then poked away 
the bason with a stick, battered it with stones, and 
making a hole in the ground buried it. After that 
they conducted me to a small hut, and told me to 
tarry there till the morning, when they would con- 
duct me to the harbour. I had but little sleep that 
night, and was up several times to look out, and saw 
two or three indians at a little distance from the 
hut, who I suppose were placed there to watch me. 
Early in the morning numbers came round the hut, 
and the female who was my guide, asked me where 
my country was % I could not make her under- 
stand, only that it was at a great distance. She 
then asked me if my countrymen eat men. I told 
her no — and seeing some goats, pointed at them and 
told her we eat such as them. — She then asked me 



NARRATIVE. 39 

what made me white, and if it was not the white 
rain that come upon us when we were small ? (How 
they came by this notion I know not, but suppose 
that while she was over with the Malays she had 
heard something of snow from them, as they carry 
on some trade with the English at Fort Marlboro' 
and Bencoolen.) And as I wished to please and 
satisfy them, I told them that I supposed it was — 
for it was only in certain seasons of the year that it 
fell, and in hot weather when it did not fall the 
people grew darker till it returned and then the 
people all grew white again — this seemed to please 
them very much. 

My protectress now brought a young man to me 
who, she said, was her brother, and who would shew 
me the way to the harbour ; — she then cut a stick 
about eight feet long, and he took hold of one end 
and gave me the other — she told me that she had 
instructed her brother what to say at the harbour. 
He then led off and I followed. During our walk I 
put out my hand to him several times, and made 
signs of friendship — but he seemed to be afraid 
of me, and would look upwards and then fall flat on 
the ground and kiss it — this he repeated as often as 



40 NARRATIVE. 

I made any sign or token of friendship to him.— 
When Ave had got near the harbour he made a sign 
for me to sit down upon a rock, which I did ; he 
then left me and went, as I supposed, to talk with 
the people at the water concerning me ; but I had 
not sit long before I saw a vessel coming round a 
point into the harbour.— They soon came on shore 
in the boat. — I went down to them and made my 
case known, and when the boat returned on board 
they took me with them. It was a Dutch snow* 
bound from China to Batavia ; after they had 
wooded and watered they set sail for Batavia : — 
being out about three weeks we arrived there : — I 
tarried on board her about three weeks longer, and ' 
then got on board a Spanish ship which was from 
Bio de la Plate bound to Spain, but by stress of 
weather was forced to put into this port. After the 
vessel had repaired we sailed for Spain. When we 
made the Cape of Good-Hope we fell in with two 
British cruizers of 2D guns each, who engaged us 
and did the vessel considerable damage, but at 

* A vessel with two masts resembling the main and fore- 
masts of a ship, and a third small mast just abaft the mainmast, 
carrying a sail similar to a ship's mizzen. 



NARRATIVE. 41 

length we beat them off, and then run for the coast 
of Brazils, where we arrived safe and began to work 
at repairing our ship, but upon examination she was 
found to be not fit to proceed on her voyage, she 
was therefore condemned. I then left her and got 
on board a Portuguese snow, bound up to St. Helena, 
and we arrived safe at that place. I then went on 
shore and quitted her, and engaged in the garrison 
there to do duty as a soldier for my provisions, till 
some ship should arrive there bound to England. 
After serving here a month, I entered on board 
a ship called the Stormont^s) — but orders were soon 
after received that no indiaman should sail without 
convoy ; and we lay here six months, during which 
time our captain (Montgomery) died. 

While I was at St. Helena, the vessel which I 
came out from England in arrived here, homeward 
bound ; she being on the return from her second 
voyage since I came from England : — and now I 
made known my case to Captain Kerr, who readily 
took me on board the Princess-Royal, and used me 
kindly — and those of my old shipmates on board 
were glad to see me again. Captain Kerr at first 
seeing me, asked me if I was not afraid to let him 



42 NAEKATIVE. 

know who I was ? and endeavoured to frighten me ; 
yet his conduct towards me was humane and kind. — 
It had been very sickly on board the Princess- 
Royal, and the greater part of the hands which came 
out of England in her had died, and she was now 
manned chiefly with lascars, (country born people) : 
among those who had died was the boatswain and 
the boatswain's mate, and Captain Kerr made me 
boatswain of the ship — in which office I continued 
until we arrived in London — and it protected me 
from being impressed at our arrival in England. 

We sailed from St. Helena about the first of 
November, 1781, under convoy of the Experiment 
of 50 guns,* commanded by Captain Henry, and 
the Shark sloop of war of 18 guns (a — and we 
arrived in London about the first of March, 1782, — 
it having been about two years and a half from the 
time I had left it. 

In about a fortnight after our arrival in London, 

* There is a mistake here. The Experiment of 50 guns was 
taken hy the French, Sept. 24, 1779, when under the command 
of Sir James Wallace. Her successor, a 44 gun-ship, was not 
launched until 1784. The ship the writer alludes to was the 
Eenown, of 50 guns, Oapt. John Henry. For account of her 
see note (so). 



NARRATIVE. , 43 

I entered on board the King-George, (32) store-ship 
bound to Antigua, and after four weeks passage 
arrived there — the second night after we came to 
anchor in Antigua, I took the ship's boat and made 
my escape in her to Montserrat,* which place had 
but just before been taken by the French. — Here I 
did not meet with the treatment which I expected ; 
for on my arrival at Montserrat I was immediately 
taken up and put in prison, where I continued 
24 hours, and my boat taken from me ; — I was then 
sent to Guadaloupe,f and examined by the gover- 
nor. — I made known my case to him, by acquainting 
him with the misfortunes I had gone through in my 
captivity and in making my escape — he seemed to 
commiserate me — gave me ten dollars for the boat 
that I escaped in, and provided a passage for me on 
board a French brigantine :{: that was bound from 

* The Isle of Montserrat in the West Indies, was discovered 
by Columbus in 1493, and was planted by England in 1632. 
It was taken by the French, Feb. 18, 1782, and was restored 
to England in 1783. 

t One of the West India Islands, Leeward Group. The 
Governor at this time was Capt. Gen. Thomas Shirley. 

X This was a small, flat, open, light vessel, going both with 
sails and oars, being intended either for lighting or giving 



44 NARRATIVE. 

Guadaloupe to Philadelphia : — the vessel sailed in a 
few days — and now my prospects were favourable — 
but my misfortunes were not to end here ; for after 
being out 21 days, we fell in with the Amphitrite (33) 
and Amphene, (34) two British cruizers, off the Capes 
of Delaware, by whom we were taken, carried into 
New- York, and put on board the Jersey (35) prison- 
ship — after being on board about a week, a cartel 
was fitted out for France, and I was sent on board 
as a French prisoner : — The cartel was ordered for 
St. Malo's, * and after a passage of 32 days we 
arrived safe at that place. 

Finding no American vessel at St. Malo's, I went 
to the commandant and procured a pass to go by 
land to Port l'Orient ; f on my arrival there I found 
three American privateers belonging to Beverley,;}: 
in the Massachusetts. I was much elated at seeing 
so many of my country, some of whom I was well 

chase. These vessels were first used by pirates. The English 
brigantine was quite different ; in fact, the term was variously 
applied by the mariners of different European nations. 

* A seaport town in France. 

t A seaport town in France. 

I Beverly, a post town in Essex Co., Mass. First settled, 
1626. Population in 1860, 6,154. 



NAKRATIVK. 45 

acquainted with. I immediately entered on board 
the Bucaneer — Captain Phierson : — We sailed on a 
cruize, and after being out 18 days, we returned to 
L'Orient with six prizes. — Three days after our 
arrival in port we heard the joyful news of peace; — 
on which the privateer was dismantled, the people 
discharged, and Capt. Phierson sailed on a merchant 
voyage to Norway. 

I then entered on board a brig bound to Lisbon, 
(Capt. Ellen wood (s 6 ) of Beverly), and arrived at 
Lisbon in eight days — we took in a cargo of salt, 
and sailed for Beverly, where we arrived the 9th 
of May, 1783, — being now only 15 miles from 
home. — I immediately set for Cape- Ann, (37) went 
to my father's (as) house, and had an agreeable 
meeting with my friends, after an absence of almost 
six years. 

New-London May 10, 1788. 

JOHN BLATCHFORD( 39 ). 



46 NARRATIVE. 

[N\ B. Those who are acquainted with the narrator will 
not scruple to give full credit to the foregoing account— 
and others may satisfy themselves by conversing with him. 
The scars he carries are proof of a part of his narrative — 
and a gentleman belonging to New-London, who was several 
months with him, was acquainted with part of his suffer- 
ings, tho' it was out of his power to relieve him. — He is a 
poor man, with a wife and two children — His employment 
fishing and coasting.] 




Boston, Dec. 6, 1864. 

I have carefully compared the foregoing copy (40 pages) 
with the printed tract in the Library of the Mass. Hist. Society, and 
hereby certify that it is an accurate transcript of the same. 

J. Appleton, 

AssisVt. LiVn. 




NOTES. 



(i) The Hancock was one of the thirteen vessels authorized 
to he built by resolution of Congress of Dec. 13th, 1775, and 
was one of the two frigates which, by that resolve, were 
ordered to be constructed in Massachusetts. She mounted 
32 twelve-pounder guns, and was built at, or near Boston, in 
1776. As soon as she was equipped and ready for sea, she 
was placed under the command of Captain John Manly, and 
soon after sailed on a cruise. On the 27th day of June, 1777, 
in company with the frigate Boston, of 24 guns, she took off 
the coast of New Foundland, the British frigate Fox, of 28 
guns, after an action of about two hours' duration. On the 8th 
day of July following, after a chase of more than 30 hours, the 
Hancock was captured by the Bainbow, of 44 guns, com- 
manded by Sir George Collier, and taken to Halifax. Capt. 
Manly is thought to have lost her in consequence of having 
put her out of trim by starting the water in her fore hold. 
She was subsequently purchased on behalf of the British gov- 
ernment, and added to the navy under the name of the Iris. 



48 NOTKS. 

On the 7th day of June, 1780, while under the command of 
Oapt. James Hawker, she encountered off the coast of North 
America, the French 36-gun frigate Hermoine, M. la Fouche 
Treville, commander, and after a severe action of one hour 
and twenty minutes, the latter was compelled to sheer off. On 
the 16th day of March, 1781, being then under the orders of 
Capt. George Dawson, the Iris formed one of the squadron 
under Admiral Arbutlmot in the action off the Chesapeake, 
with the squadron under M. de Ternay. On the 9th of August 
following, while cruising off the capes of Delaware, she fell in 
with the American ship Trumbull, of 28 guns, Capt. James 
Nicholson. A sharp action commenced, and continued for 
over an hour with no definite result, when another British 
frigate came up, whereupon, the Trumbull struck her colors. 
In this engagement the Trumbull had four men killed and five 
wounded, and the Iris one killed and six wounded. Previous 
to the contest the Trumbull had lost her fore-top mast in a 
gale of wind. She was a valuable prize, having five hundred 
barrels of fresh Philadelphia flour and bread on board. On 
the 10th day of September following, the Iris was sent to cut 
away the French buoys at the anchorage ground near the 
Chesapeake Bay, when she was intercepted and captured by 
the French squadron under M. de Barras. She was subse- 
quently added to the French navy under the same name. 
During the time she was held by the British, she proved her- 
self one of the fastest ships on the American station, and cap- 
tured so many rich prizes, that she is said to have made the 



NOTES. 49 

fortunes of all who commanded her. Her place in the British 
service was supplied hy another frigate, of the same name and 
force, which was built on the river Thames in 1783. The Iris 
remained in the possession of the French until the year 1793, 
when she was blown up at Toulon, as a magazine, by the 
Spaniards. 

(2) Capt. John Manly was a native of Massachusetts, and 
was born in the year 1733. After receiving the rudiments of 
education, he embraced the maritime life, and soon became 
noted for his energy and professional merit. In 1775 he com- 
manded the schooner Lee, and in November of that year, took 
the Nancy, a transport bound to Boston, and laden with 
valuable munitions of war, of which the colonists were then in 
great need. While in this command he made other valuable 
prizes, one of which he captured in sight of the British fleet in 
Boston harbor. His zeal and enterprise attracted the attention 
of Congress, and that body, in the following year, appointed 
him a captain in the navy, and gave him the command of the 
Hancock, a beautiful frigate of 32 guns, then building in Mas- 
sachusetts. In this vessel he captured the Fox, June 27th, 
1777, and in July following this prize was retaken by the 
Flora of 32 guns, Capt. Brisbane. About the same time, the 
Hancock struck to the Rainbow, Sir George Collier, after a 
long chase, and was taken with her crew to Halifax. In a few 
days after, Capt. Manly was conveyed to New York, where he 
remained a prisoner until the month of April of the year fol- 



50 NOTES. 

lowing. He was then released and returned to Boston, when 
his conduct was investigated, but the result of the inquiry left 
him without reproach. Soon after this he was put in com- 
mand of the Cumberland, a new privateer of 20 guns, and in 
Jan., 1779, while cruising in her off the southern coast, was 
taken by the Pomona frigate of 28 guns, Capt. Waldegrave, 
and carried into Barbadoes, where he and his officers were 
imprisoned. Finding that their applications for paroles were 
rejected, they determined to attempt their escape. This they 
effected by taking possession of a Bermudian sloop, and steer- 
ing their course for Martinico, where they arrived in safety 
and sold their vessel. On his return home, Capt. Manly was 
appointed to the privateer Jason, of 20 guns, which vessel had 
just before been taken from the British. On the 25th July, 
1779, while on a cruise in her, he was attacked by two British 
privateers, one of 18 and the other of 16 guns. Beserving his 
fire, Capt. Manly ran between the privateers, and poured his 
starboard broadside into one, and his larboard broadside into 
the other with great effect, whereupon both his opponents 
struck their colors. In the month of August following, while 
cruising off the coast of Nova Scotia, he took a ship of 
14 guns, and 20 men. In November, after an obstinate 
engagement of four glasses, Capt. Manly was captured by the 
Perseus frigate of 20 guns. In this contest the Jason lost 18 
killed and 12 wounded, and the Perseus 7 killed and 10 
wounded. Having been exchanged, Capt. Manly was on the 
11th Sept., 1782, appointed to the frigate Hague, formerly the 






NOTES. 51 

Dearie, of 32 guns, and sailed for the West Indies. A few days 
after leaving Martinique, he was descried by a British 74, and 
to avoid capture, he ran his ship on a sand bank near Guada- 
loupe. While thus exposed, he is said to have sustained the 
fire from the enemy's ships for three days with undaunted 
firmness. On the 4th he got off, when, hoisting his colors at 
the main-top-gallant-mast, and firing 13 guns in farewell 
defiance, he made his escape and arrived safely in Boston, 
where, this exploit having gained him much eclat, he was 
received with marked attention. Capt. Manly continued in 
command of the Hague, and his ship was one of the last 
cruisers at sea in the war. She was frequently chased, and 
made many narrow escapes. After the peace, Capt. Manly 
returned to Boston, and retired to private life. He died in 
that city, Feb. 12, 1793, in the 60th year of his age. 

( 3 ) The Fox was a British frigate mounting 28 guns, four of 
which were four-pounders, and the remaining twenty-four long 
nine-pounders. She was registered as a sixth-rate, and was 
built on the river Thames in the year 1774. She was placed 
under the command of Capt. P. Fotheringham, and in 1776 
formed one of the squadron at New Foundland, under John 
Montagu, vice-admiral of the white. On the 27th day of June, 
1777, while on a cruise near the Banks of New Foundland, 
she fell in with the American frigates Hancock, of 32 guns, 
and Boston, of 24 guns. An action commenced and continued 
for about two hours. During the engagement the Fox took 



52 NOTES. 

fire in the main chains, where a number of wads had been 
deposited. Upon this, the Americans ceased firing until the 
flames were extinguished, when the contest was resumed. 
The Fox being at length reduced to a wreck, and having sus- 
tained a severe loss in killed and wounded, Capt. Fotheringham 
ordered the colors to be hauled down. The Lieut, of Marines, 
Hon. James J. Napier, was among the wounded. In July 
following, while the prize was being conveyed by her captors 
to Boston, the British ship Kainbow hove in sight and gave 
chase to the Hancock, while the Boston effected her escape. 
During the chase, the 32-gun frigate Flora came up and 
recaptured the Fox, and carried her into Halifax. The Fox, 
after undergoing repairs, was again taken into the British 
service. She was placed under the orders of Hon. Thomas 
Windsor, manned with a crew of 200 men, and in 1778, formed 
one of the fleet of Admiral Keppel, which in July of that 
year was cruising off Brest in search of the French fleet under 
Oomte d' Orvilliers. On the 10th of September following, 
while off the French coast, she was chased by the 34-gun 
frigate Junon, commanded by Vicomte de Beaumont. The 
weather being thick and hazy, the Junon was not perceived 
until close aboard of the Fox, when the latter hove to and 
awaited the approach of the Frenchman. An action com- 
menced, and lasted for three hours, when the Fox, being 
totally dismasted, having several guns disabled, 11 men killed, 
and Capt. Windsor and 49 of his men wounded, many of them 
mortally, hauled down her colors. The Junon had a crew of 



NOTES. 53 

330 men, and carried six 6-pounders and 28 long twelves. 
The Fox was succeeded in the British navy by a 32-gun 
frigate of the same name, of 697 tons burden, built at Bursle- 
don, in the year 1780. 

Patrick Fotheringham was made lieut. on the 13th day of 
Dec, 1760, promoted to commander April 1, 1765, and raised 
to the rank of captain, Sept. 2, 1773. About the year 1772, 
he was appointed to the sloop Merlin, of 18 guns, in which 
vessel he seems to have served until 1775, when he was made 
capt. of the Fox, of 28 guns, and soon after, ordered to North 
America. Oapt. Fotheringham was tried by court-martial at 
Portsmouth, March 3, 1778, for the loss of his ship, and he 
and his officers were honorably acquitted. He was soon after 
appointed to the Resource, of 28 guns, in which frigate he 
remained for the usual period. He died in the West Indies in 
the spring of 1781, while captain of the ship Ruby. 

( 4 ) The Rainbow was registered as a fifth-rate, carried 
44 guns, and was built on the river Thames in 1761, to 
succeed a 40-gun ship of the same name, then broken up. The 
dimensions of our vessel were as follows : length of gun-deck, 
131 feet 3 in. ; of keel, 108 ft. 3>£ in. ; breadth, 37 ft. 10% in. ; 
depth in hold, 16 ft.; tons, 831. In the year 1762, she was 
placed under the orders of Capt. Mark Robinson, and formed 
one of the Havanna squadron under Commodore Elliot, at 
which time she carried a crew of 380 men. In 1764 she was 
commanded by Capt. Walter Sterling, and was on duty in 



54 NOTES. 

North America. She remained on this station till 1766, when 
she returned home and was put out of commission. A short 
time after the prospect of a rupture with Spain had passed 
away, Capt. Charles Fielding was appointed to the Rainbow, 
then equipping for service at Chatham, a command which he 
retained for nearly two years. Towards the conclusion of 
1771, Thomas Collingwood was placed in command of her, 
and he seems to have remained in her for the usual period of 
three years, doing duty a part of the time on the coast of 
Guinea. At the commencement of the dispute with the 
North American colonies, she was placed under the orders 
of Sir George Collier, and came to America with Commodore 
Ilotham, and a large re-inforcement of troops for the army* 
under Gen. Howe. In 1776 she co-operated with the army in 
the reduction of New York, and in 1777 she was stationed at 
Halifax, where she was one of a small squadron employed in 
protecting the fisheries as well as the trade in that quarter. 
In the month of July, being on a cruise, she fell in with, and 
after a long chase, captured the Hancock frigate of 32 guns 
and 290 men — a ship esteemed at that time the finest in 
the American service, and one of the fastest sailing vessels 
ever built. After this, the Rainbow proceeded to Machias, 
and along the coast of New England, burning the vessels and 
destroying the stores intended for the contemplated invasion 
by the Americans of Nova Scotia. In the beginning of 1779 
she was one of a squadron that sailed from New York in com- 
pany with transports conveying troops under Gen. Matthew 



NOTES. 55 

to Hampton Roads, and she co-operated with the array in the 
reduction of Norfolk, Suffolk, Portsmouth, and Gosport. A 
short time after this, John Kendall was appointed to her, and 
shortly after, she returned home and went into dock at 
Chatham. Having been thoroughly overhauled, she was 
placed under the orders of Henry Trollope, and sailed on 
the 2d day of Sept., 1782, for Plymouth, to join Commodore 
Elliot in the Channel. When off the Isle of Bas, she fell in 
with and captured the French frigate La Hebe, of 40 guns and 
360 men, then on her way from St. Malo to Brest, with a con- 
voy, which in the chase, being close in shore, got into Morlais 
in safety. In the engagement, the Rainbow lost only one 
man, while her opponent had her 2d capt. and four men 
killed, besides several wounded. Among the latter was Mons. 
de Vigny, the commander of the French vessel. The Hebe 
being a fine ship, was purchased by government, and added to 
the Royal navy under the same name. This action appears to 
have been the last active service of the Rainbow, for we find 
her in 1784 reported as a hulk. Shortly after this she was fitted 
up as a receiving ship, and stationed at "Woolwich. She was 
used in this capacity until about the year 1801, when she was 
broken up. The " Rainbow " seems to have been a favorite 
name in the British navy, as we read of one as early as 1594, 
in a squadron under Sir Martin Frobisher, sent to aid the 
French in their attack upon Brest, which was then in posses- 
sion of the Spaniards. 

Sir George Collier was born in 1738. He entered the 



56 NOTES. 

navy when about thirteen years of age, and served part of his 
time with Sir George Pocock. He was made commander, 
Aug. 6, 1761, and attained the rank of captain, July 12, 1762. 
About this time, he was appointed to the Bologne, of 32 guns, 
in which vessel he served till the following year, when peace 
having taken place, he was appointed to the Edgar, of 60 guns, 
then a guard-ship at Plymouth. In 1770, he was commissioned 
to the Tweed frigate, and sailed on a cruise in the Channel in 
a small squadron under the Duke of Cumberland. He subse- 
quently commanded the Levant, of 28 guns, and afterwards 
the Flora, of 32, and in 1775, received the honor of knight- 
hood. About this time he was appointed to the Rainbow, of 
44 guns, and in 1776, proceeded in her to North America. 
He assisted in the reduction of New York in that year, and in 
1777, commanded the detachment of the fleet stationed at 
Halifax, distinguishing himself greatly by his energy and 
activity. In July he captured the American frigate Hancock, 
of 32 guns, and soon after bringing her into port, he proceeded 
to Machias, where he destroyed the magazines and store- 
houses filled with flour, rice and other articles, which the 
Americans had collected there for a contemplated invasion of 
Nova Scotia, and subsequently burnt 30 sail of vessels along the 
coast of New England. He continued on that station till 
March, 1779, when he moved into the Raisonable of 64 guns, 
on board of which he hoisted his broad pendant as commander- 
in-chief, pro tempore, on the American station. In May fol- 
lowing, he commanded the fleet in the expedition to Virginia, 



NOTES. 57 

and in conjunction with a land force under Gen. Matthew, 
took possession of Portsmouth, Norfolk, Gosport and Suffolk, 
capturing a large quantity of stores, cannon and ammunition, 
and destroying many vessels and much property of all kind. 
After his return to New York, he assisted in the reduction of 
Stony Point, Fort Lafayette and Verplanck's Point, subse- 
quently co-operated with Gen. Tryon in the destruction of 
Norwalk, Fairfield and Greenfield, and in July following went 
to the relief of Penobscot, where he signally defeated the 
American fleet under Saltonstall, capturing and destroying the 
whole force, amounting to 37 large armed vessels. After this 
he returned to New York, where he found Admiral Arbuth- 
not, to whom he resigned the command of the squadron, and 
then returned to England. In 1780 he was appointed to the 
Canada, of 74 guns, one of the ships belonging to the Channel 
fleet ; in the following year he accompanied Admiral Darby 
to the relief of Gibraltar, and in 1784 was elected M. P. for 
Honiton. In 1790, on the expectation of a rupture with Spain, 
he was appointed to the St. George, of 98 guns ; but the 
dispute being accommodated, the St. George was paid off. On 
the 1st Feb., 1793, he was made rear-admiral of the white, on 
the 12th April, 1794, rear-admiral of the red, and on the 
12th July following, vice-admiral of the white, which was the 
highest rank he lived to attain. In Jan., 1795, he was 
appointed to the chief command at the Nore, but was com- 
pelled to resign on account of ill health. He died on the 6th 
day of April following. Sir George had blue eyes, light hair, 



58 NOTES. 

and fair complexion. Though of medium height, he was well 
proportioned and very active. As a private individual, he 
was amiable and benevolent, sociable and pleasant ; as an 
officer, brave, active and persevering, cool and determined in 
battle, slow to punish, but a strict observer of discipline. 
He was possessed of much literary taste, and was the trans- 
lator of Selima and Azor, a dramatic romance, which was 
successfully performed at Drury Lane Theatre in 1776. He 
was twice married. His first wife was Miss Christiana Gwyn, 
to whom he was united in 1773. By her he had one son. 
His second wife was Miss Elizabeth Fryer, to whom he was 
married in 1781. By her he had two daughters and four 
sons. The latter all entered the service of their country — two 
in the army and two in the navy. George, the eldest of the 
four, became lieutenant-colonel of the Coldstream Guards, aud 
was killed in his 31st year in the sortie from Bayonne, 
March 10, 1814. 

( 5 ) The Floea was a fifth-rate British frigate, mounting 32 
guns. She was formerly the Vestale French frigate of 32 guns, 
and was captured off the French coast on the 8th January, 
1761, by the Union frigate of 28 guns, Capt. Joseph Hunt, 
after a severe action, in which Capt. Hunt was killed, and 
M. Boisbertelot, the commander of the Vestale, had his leg 
shot off, in consequence of which he died the next day. The 
Vestale was repaired and added to the British navy, under 
the name of the Flora. In 1762 she was stationed in the 



NOTES. 59 

Downs, and was then commanded by Capt. Gamaliel Nightin- 
gale. She remained on home duty but a short time, as peace 
took place soon after, and she was then put out of commission. 
Her next employment appears to have been in 1773, at which 
time she was commanded by Capt. George Collier, and was on 
the home station. Soon after the commencement of the 
contest with the colonies, Capt. John Brisbane was appointed 
to her, and in 1776 she was ordered to North America with a 
convoy. She was employed here subsequently on a variety 
of desultory service. In July, 1777, she re-captured the Fox, 
a frigate of 28 guns, which had been taken on the Banks of 
New Foundland, a short time before, by the American frigates 
Hancock and Boston. In the summer of 1778, she was one 
of the small squadron under Capt. Brisbane, that was stationed 
off Rhode Island, to protect that post and distress the com- 
merce of the neighboring coast. "While thus employed, the 
French fleet, under Comte d'Estaing, comprising 12 ships of 
the line and 4 frigates, made its appearance off Rhode Island 
on the 28th of July, and after several previous indications of 
attack in less force, entered the harbor of Newport on the 
8th day of August following. In consequence of this, the 
officers of Capt. Brisbane's squadron, then lying in the harbor, 
were reduced to the necessity of burning or sinking their ships, 
to prevent them from falling into the hands of the enemy, and 
the Flora was one of those that were sunk. Her place in the 
British navy was supplied by a 36-gun frigate, of the same 
name, which was built at Deptford in the year 1780, and 



60 NOTES. 

which, after serving with distinction, was lost on the 18th 
January, 1808, by striking upon Schelling Reef. The 32-gun 
frigate Flora, the subject of our sketch, after being submerged 
for some time, was at length weighed by the Americans, and 
sold by them to the French, who gave her the name of the 
Flore. On the 7th September, 1798, she was captured off the 
French coast, after a long chase, by the Phaeton frigate 
of 38 guns, Hon. Robert Stopford, and the Anson frigate of 
44 guns, Philip C. Durham. Her subsequent history we have 
been unable to learn further than that she was sold soon after 
she was brought into port. 

John Brisbane was appointed lieutenant, Aug. 5, 1757, and 
was raised to the rank of captain on the 24th Sept., 1760. 
For a short time he commanded the Nightingale, a 20-gun 
ship, on the American station. After this he was appointed 
to the Echo, a 24-gun frigate, lately taken from the French, 
and was ordered to the "West Indies. He continued there till 
the end of the war, when he returned home, and his ship was 
put out of commission. In 1769 he was appointed to the 
Ceberus, of 28 guns, and after being in her a short time, he 
returned to Chatham, when his ship was laid up. Soon after 
the commencement of the American revolution, he was 
appointed to the Flora, of 32 guns, and in 1776 sailed in her 
to America, where he had been ordered with a convoy. In 
July, 1777, he recaptured the Fox frigate of 28 guns, and in 
the summer of the following year, was stationed off Rhode 



NOTES. 61 

Island as senior or commanding officer of a small squadron. 
Having lost his ship while in this command, he returned home 
in the fall, when he was appointed to the Alcide, a new ship 
of 74 guns. In December, 1779, he sailed with Sir George 
Rodney to Gibraltar, but was not materially, if at all, engaged 
in the action with the Spanish squadron. He subsequently 
proceeded to the West Indies,' and thence to America, after 
which he was sent home by Sir George Rodney, with the 
information of that officer's arrival on the American station 
with the West India detachment. He reached England in 
December, and then quitted the command of the Alcide. In 
the ensuing year he was appointed to the Hercules, of the 
same force, but in consequence of impaired health, he was 
under the necessity of resigning this command in December 
following. On the 21st September, 1790, he was made rear- 
admiral of the blue, and on the 12th April, 1794, was advanced 
to vice-admiral of the blue. On the 4th July following, he 
was raised to vice-admiral of the white, and on the 1st June, 
1795, was advanced to vice-admiral of the red. He died on 
the 10th December, 1807. He had by his wife, Mary, two 
daughters and also six sons, three of whom died in the service 
of their country. The widow of Admiral Brisbane died at 
Brighton, April 29th, 1817. 

( 6 ) The Cabot was a brig of 189 tons burden, mounted 
14 guns, believed to be six-pounders, and was purchased by 
Congress in 1775. On the 22d December of that year, the 



62 NOTES. 

command of her was given to Capt. John B. Hopkins, and in 
February following, she formed one of the squadron under 
Commodore Ezek Hopkins, in his attack upon New Provi- 
dence. On her return she engaged the Glasgow frigate of 
20 guns, Capt. Tyringham Howe ; but the latter being too 
heavy a force for her, she was compelled to sheer off, having 
her captain wounded, her master killed, and a number of her 
crew injured. She was subsequently placed under the com- 
mand of Capt. Elisha Hinman, and in the month of October 
she took two ships from Jamaica bound to London, with 
sugar, rum and indigo, five ships and a brig, all from Jamaica, 
one of them a 3-decker, with upwards of 600 hhds. on board. 
Her next commander was Capt. Joseph Olney. While under 
his orders, in March, 1777, she was chased on shore on the 
coast of Nova Scotia by the British frigate Milford, of 
28 guns, Capt. John Burr, (see Allen's Battles Brit. Navy, 
vol. i., p. 242,) who pressed her so hard that she had barely 
time to get her people out. Capt. Olney and crew, after 
abandoning their vessel, retreated to the woods, and subse- 
quently seized a schooner, in which they got home in safety. 
The enemy, after a long trial, got the Cabot off. She was 
taken into the British service, under the same name, and 
placed under the command of Edward Dodd. On the 13th 
May, 1779, she was one of the squadron of Sir James Wallace 
that drove a division of the French force in Cancale Bay, in 
which service sfce had her purser killed and two of her men 
wounded. In 1780 she was under the command of Henry 



NOTES. 63 

Cromwell, and was one of the squadron of Vice-admiral 
Parker, in the battle with the Dutch squadron under Rear- 
admiral Zoutman, off the Dogger Bank, on the 5th day of 
August of the following year. In 1782 she was at Sheerness, 
and she appears to have been broken up or otherwise disposed 
of shortly afterwards. 

Capt. JosEpn Olney was, we believe, a native of Rhode 
Island. In 1752 he was one of five citizens of Providence 
who were appointed to have the care of the town school-house. 
Previous to the Revolution, he kept for many years the princi- 
pal public house in Providence. On the 22d December, 1775, 
he was appointed by Congress a lieutenant, and on the 
10th October, 1776, was promoted to the rank of captain. 
He does not appear to have had any command after the 
loss of the Cabot. He probably retired to Providence and 
died there. 

( 7 ) The Milfoed was registered as a sixth-rate, carried 
28 guns, and was built in 1759. In 1762 she was commanded 
by Robert Mann, 2d, and on the 7th day of March, when on a 
cruise in the bay, she fell in with and engaged the letter-of- 
marque La Gloire, from Bordeaux, bound to St. Domingo, 
pierced for 20 guns, but had only 16 six-pounders, and 10 
swivels mounted, with a crew of 94 men. Capt. Mann receiv- 
ing a mortal wound in the early part of the action, the 
command devolved upon Lieut. Day, who fought his ship with 



64 NOTES. 

great bravery, until he fell severely wounded. His place was 
then supplied by Lieut. Nash, who continued the engagement 
with spirit, and at length compelled his opponent to strike his 
colors. The La Gloire lost her mainmast in the action, had 
her rigging, sails and hull cut to pieces, and 6 of her crew 
killed and 18 wounded. The Milford, beside her captain and 
first-lieutenant, had 2 killed and 13 wounded. In 1763 the 
Milford was commanded by Capt. J. Reynolds, and was in 
service on the coast of Africa ; in 1766 Thomas Cornwell was 
appointed to her, and in 1770 she was at "Woolwich, probably 
undergoing repair. In the year 1775 Captain John Burr was 
appointed to command her, and in 1776 she came to America. 
In the month of June following, while cruising off Cape Ann, 
she fell in with and captured the American privateer Yankee 
Hero, commanded by Captain Tracy, of Newburyport, after a 
severe engagement of nearly two glasses. In the contest the 
Yankee Hero had four of her crew killed and fourteen 
wounded. Capt. Tracy was wounded in the leg. Lieutenant 
Main was badly injured, and Mr. Rowe, of Cape Ann, sus- 
tained the loss of an arm. In the month of September, while 
on a cruise off Cape Sable, the Milford fell in with the Provi- 
dence, of 28 guns, commanded by Captain Paul Jones. An 
engagement ensued, and continued for several hours, when 
her opponent was compelled to sheer off. At the close of 
the year she fell in with the Alfred, of 28 guns, to which 
vessel Capt. Jones had recently been appointed. An action 
took place and lasted for some time, when the Alfred, avail- 



NOTES. 65 

ing herself of a hard gust of wind which arose, succeeded 
in effecting her escape. In March, 1777, the Milford chased 
the 14-gun brig Cabot, Capt. Joseph Olney, ashore on the 
coast of Nova Scotia, and in June, 1778, being then under the 
orders of Sir Wm. Burnaby, and attached to the fleet off 
Brest under Admiral Keppel, she, in company with another 
vessel, compelled the French frigate Licorne, of 32 guns, 
to haul down her colors. In August, 1779, she was one 
of the Channel fleet under Sir Charles Hardy, and was 
attached to the centre division in line of battle. In 1780, 
Capt. Philip Patton was appointed to her, and under him 
she formed one of the Channel fleet in Torbay, under 
command of Vice-admiral George Darby. Having become 
leaky and in need of great repair, Capt. Patton quitted 
her, and she was soon after broken up. Her place in the 
navy was supplied by a 74-gun ship, which we find build- 
ing in the year 1799. 

John Bceb, who we believe commanded this frigate at the 
time referred to in the narrative, was made lieutenant in 
the year 1758; raised to commander, Sept. 13, 1769, and 
promoted to the rank of captain on the 15th day of 
October, 1773. In 1770 he commanded the sloop Hound, 
of 14 guns, and in 1775 was appointed to the Milford 
frigate, of 28 guns, which appears to have been his last 
command. He died (says Schomberg, vol. v., p. 346) in 
the year 1784. 



66 NOTES. 

(s) The following particulars we take from the papers of the day : 
" Halifax, July 12. 

This Day arrived his Majesty's Ship Rainbow, Sir 
George Collier, having brought into this Harbour, the Han- 
cock Frigate, commanded by Mr. Manley ; the following are 
some Particulars relative to the meeting the Eebel Squadron 
under Manley, by his Majesty's Ship Hainbow, commanded by 
Sir George Collier. 

/"\ N Sunday the 6th July, at Half past 4 in the Afternoon 
^^^ (Cape Sambro' then bearing X. E. about 12 or 13 Leagues) 
we discovered three Sail from the Mast-head, which we inime 
diately gave chace to, but from the Distance could form no 
Judgment of their Force, or what they were ; the Victor Brig 
was at this Time in Company, three or four Miles astern, and 
as her Kate of sailing was much inferior to that of the Rain- 
bow, we made Signal for her to make more Sail, being appre- 
hensive otherwise of separating from her ; at Sun-set we had 
gained so much on the Chace, as to discover they were large 
Ships, standing as we were close on a Wind, which was at 
W. N. W., and seemed to us a conclusive Proof that they 
were bound to some of the Ports in New-England ; we con- 
tinued the Chace, and at Daun of Day in the Morning saw 
them again about three Points on the Weather-Bow, with a 
Sloop in Company : the prest Sail we had earned all Night, 
had en creased the Distance from the Victor Brig so much, 
that she was no longer discernable from the Mast-head : — The 



NOTES. 67 

Ships we were in Chace of, were about five or six Miles 
distant, and from many Circumstances we Lad no doubt were 
part of the Eebel Fleet, who had sailed some Time before 
from Boston under the command of Mr. Manley ; continuing 
the Chace, and gaining upon them, they quitted their Prize 
Sloop and set her on Fire, going off in a regular Line of 
Battle-a-head, and setting Top-gallant Royals, and every Sail 
that could be useful to them. 

A little after six A. M. another Sail was discovered, stand- 
ing towards the Eebel Ships ; she crossed us on the contrary 
Tack, at about four Miles Distance ; and put about, when she 
could fetch their Wakes ; from her not making the private 
Signal, we had no doubt but that she was another of the 
Rebel Frigates, and therefore, Sir George paid no Regard to 
an English red Ensign she hoisted, and two Guns she fired to 
the Leeward. 

About Ten in the Morning, the Enemy's Ships went away 
lasking ; and three Quarters of an Hour afterwards, we were 
surprized to see several Shot exchanged between the Stern- 
most of them, and the Stranger who had last joined, and 
whom we had hitherto looked upon as another of their Fleet ; 
we then hoisted our Colours, and soon afterwards the two 
Sternmost of the Eebel Frigates hawled their Wind, whilst 
the Headmost kept away about two Points from it ; this 
brought the English Ship (which we afterwards found to be 
the Flora) more a breast of them, and she passed them to the 
Windward, exchanging a Broadside with each, and pursuing 



68 NOTES. 

the Fugitive, who from the Alteration two or three Times of 
her Course, seemed uncertain which to steer : The Flora 
gained fast upon her, which she perceiving, hawled her Wind 
again, and soon afterwards tacked and stood after her Com- 
rades, exchanging a Broad-side with the Flora as they passed 
each other. 

"We were just putting about after the two Ships, when we 
observed this, which made us stand on something longer, 
before we tacked, hoping to get her within reach of our Guns 
as she passed us : "We accordingly did so, but had not the 
good Fortune to bring down either a Mast or Sail by our Fire. 

"We .tacked immediately after her, and soon afterwards saw 
the head-most Rebel Frigate put about, and pass us just out 
of Gun-shot to Windward ; she appeared a very fine Ship of 
34 Guns and had Rebel Colours flying ; one of the Gentlemen 
on the Quarter Deck had been a Prisoner lately at Boston, 
and knew her to be the Hancock, on board of whom Ifanley 
commanded, who is the second in Rank in the Rebel Army.* 

The Ship we had fired upon, out sail'd us fast ; and soon 
after our tacking kept away lasking ; whilst the other Frigate 
standing as we did, kept her Wind ; Ave then found that one 
of the three must unavoidably escape, if they steered thus, 
different Courses ; Sir George therefore judgM it best to put 
about after the Hancock, who appeared the largest Ship, the 
Rainbow, passed the Flora very near, who continued pursuing 
the Ship we had fired upon. 

* Intended for Navy. — En. 



KOTES. 69 

It was about two o'Clock in the Afternoon (of Monday the 
7th of July) that we tack'd after Mr. Manley, who seem'd at 
first rather to out-sail the Eainbow, hut we understood after- 
wards that to endeavour making her sail better, he started his 
Water forward, and by that Means put her out of Trim : An 
Hour before the close of Day, he altered his Course, and kept 
away large, we however got so near to him before Dark, as 
enabled us (by Means of a Night Glass) to keep Sight of him 
all Night: — At DaAvn of Day she was not much more than a 
Mile ahead of us, soon after which we saw a small Soil to Lee- 
ward, which we found to be the Victor Brig, who as we 
pass'd fired into the Kebel Frigate and killed one of the Men 
at the Wheel, but was not able for bad sailing to keep up or 
come near any more. About four in the Morning we began 
firing the Bow Chace upon her, with occasioned Broadsides 
loaded with round and Grape, as we could bring them to bear, 
some of which struck her Masts and Sails. At half past eight 
we were so near as to hail her, and acquaint them that if they 
expected Quarters, they must strike immediately ; Manley 
took a few Minutes to consider, and a fresher Breeze just then 
springing up, he availed himself of it, by attempting to set 
some of the steering sails on the other side, we therefore poured 
a Number of Shot into him which brought him to the ex- 
pected Determination, and he struck the Rebel Colours a little 
before 9 o'Clock in the Morning, after a Chace of upwards of 
30 Hours. 
We immediately took Possession of her, and sent Part of the 



TO NOTES. 

Prisoners on board the Rainbow ; she prov'd to be the Han- 
cock of 34 Guns, 12 Pounders, and had upwards of 229 Men 
on board ; she is a very capital and large Frigate, is quite new 
of the Stocks, and tho' from her Foulness and their Mismanage- 
ment we came up with her, yet we are informed that she is 
one of the fastest sailing Ships ever built. 

The Prisoners inform'd us that the Ship the Flora was in 
Chase of, was his Majesty's Ship the Fox, of 28 Guns, which 
Manley had lately taken on the Banks of New Foundland, 
after a close and very warm Action of two Hours ; the other 
Frigate was the Boston, of 30 Guns, commanded by McNeill. . . 
Capt. Fotheringham of the Fox, and 40 of his People were on 
board the Hancock, but his Officers and some other of the 
Men were on board the Boston Frigate, and the Eemainder 
ashore at New Foundland. 

After exchanging the Prisoners we found it necessary from 
their Number being almost as many as our own Ship's Com- 
pany, to return to this Port. 

Manley seem'd much chagrin'd at his not having engaged 
the Eainbow, when he found she was but a 40 Gun Ship, as 
he had all along mistaken her for the Eaisonable, whom he 
knew was very lately at Louisbourg. 



We hear the Prize Sloop which the Rebel Fleet set Fire to 
when chac'd by the Eainbow, was call'd the Brittania, and 
laden with coals from Louisbourg for Halifax, Hinxman, Master." 
Gaine, Mon : Aug : 4, 1777. No. 1345. 



NOTES. 71 

" New- York, August 4. 

"Wednesday last the Syren Frigate arrived here from 
Halifax, and has Drought Capt. Fotheringham of the Fox, and 
about 40 of his Seamen, with Captain Manley and his first 
Lieut, the latter commanded the Fox when taken by the 
Flora. We hear Mr. Manley is on board the St. Albans. 

A letter from Halifax, dated the 13th of July, says, 
" The public Prints will inform you of the retaking of the 
Fox Frigate, by the Flora, Capt. Brisbane, as also the taking 
of the Hancock, Manley, by the Eainbow." 

Gaine, Man : Aug : 4, 1777. No. 1345. 
" Boston, April 23. 

Last Tuesday arrived in town from New-York, where 

he has long been held a prisoner, the brave John Manley Esq. 

late Commander of the Continental Frigate Hancock." 

Holt's N. Y. Journal, Mon. May 19, 1778. 
See also 

Compilation by G. S. Ranier from Official Papers, 

Brit. Naval Chronicle, Vol : 32, pp. 266-400. 

"Detail of Particular Services, fyc." pub: by 

Ithiel Town, N. Y., 1835. 
Allen's Battles British Navy, vol. i. pp : 242-244. 

(») Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, was settled in 
1748. It was originally called Chebucto, and received the 
name of Halifax, in honor of Lord Halifax, a member of the 
British ministry. The city is on the west side of Halifax 
harbor, and on the declivity of a commanding hill. Its 
appearance in 1760 is thus described by Alex. Grant, in a 



72 NOTES. 

letter to Eev. Dr. Stiles, dated Halifax, May, 1760, (see Mass. 
Hist. Collec, 1st series, vol. x., p. 79.) " This place is divided 
into three towns — Halifax, Irishtown, and Dutchtown. The 
whole may contain about 1,000 houses, great and small, many 
of which are employed as barracks, hospitals for the army 
and navy, and other publick uses. The inhabitants may be 
about three thousand, one-third of which are Irish, and many 
of them Eoman Catholicks ; and about one-fourth Germans 
and Dutcb, the most industrious and useful settlers among us ; 
and the rest English, Avith a very small number of Scotch. 
"We have upwards of one hundred licenced houses, and perhaps 
as many more which retail spirituous liquors without licence ; 
so that the business of one-half of the town is to sell rum, and 
of the other half to drink it." 

The city, at the present day, is about two miles in length, is 
well laid out in oblong squares, the streets parallel, and at 
right angles. Many of the houses are of Avood, plastered and 
stuccoed, but many also are handsomely built of stone. 
The public buildings are substantial structures. The popu- 
lation in 1852 was 26,000, and the total value of exports 
$2,846,917. 

Queen's Slip, formerly called Governor's Slip, is on the east 
side of the city, near the centre of the original toAvn. Here 
the Governors, on their arrival from Europe, usually landed. 
They were here received by the Council, etc., and were thence 
escorted to the Council Chamber, to be publicly sworn into 
office. Hence arose its name ' : Governor 's Slip.' 1 '' 



NOTES. To 

(10) Through the courtesy of M. M. Jackson, Esq., U. S. Consul at 
Halifax, the following particulars, furnished by Beamish Murdock, Esq., 
the Historian of Nova Scotia, have been placed at our command : 

" On the west or upper side of Hollis street, not far from 
the Halifax Hotel, there is an old wooden building, now in 
ruins, which is known as the Old Jail" in which Ethan Allen, 
Hon. Jas. Lovell and others are said to have been confined, 
and which is thought to have been the building alluded to in 
the text. " This building, as originally built, was a long, one- 
story house, with a sharp pitched roof, running perhaps 
50 to 60 feet in length from the street to the end of the lot. 
It stood on a rough kind of stone wall which elevated it a few 
feet, (perhaps sis feet) above the ground, and steps were 
attached to the building outside, not on the street, but within 
the enclosure. It was used as a prison not only during the 
Revolution but also in 1780. About 150 yards from the Jail, 
stood in the last century, a brick building built by Malachi 
Salter, which was at one time used as a Sugar House. It was 
situated at the corner of Salter and Pleasant streets. It is not 
known to have been used as a prison." 

The following notices of the " Old Jail," w^e take from 
the papers of the day : 

" Boston, September 1. 

Our American Prisoners (to the Number of 31) are confined 
in the Common Gaol of Halifax (a lousy, filthy, unwholesome Place) 
and are treated in the most inhuman and barbarous Manner possible, 
having nothing to live upon but salt Provisions (and that very scanty) 



74 NOTES. 

thrown in among Negroes, Robbers, &c, and are told, they know no 

distinction.'' 

JV. Hampshire Gazette, Sat., Aug. 3, 177G. 

" Salem, Jan. 10. 

Since our last a cartel arrived from Halifax with upwards of 

100 prisoners, many of them in a very emaciated, sickly condition. 

Five of the number which came out, died on the passage." 

Pennsylvania Packet, Thurs., Feb. 7, 1782. 

(n) The Boston was one of the 13 vessels authorized to be 
built by resolution of Congress of Dec. 13, 1775, and was one 
of the two frigates which were ordered by that resolve to be 
constructed in Massachusetts. She mounted 24 guns, and was 
launched at or near Boston in 1776. She was placed under 
the command of Capt. Hector McN/eil, and soon after sailed 
on a cruise. She was in company with the Hancock in June, 
1777, when the Fox frigate was taken, and also at the time 
when the Rainbow was first discovered, but made her escape 
without affording her comrade any assistance. After her 
return to port, she was placed under the command of Capt. 
Samuel Tucker, and continued under his orders as long as she 
remained in the American service. In the early part of 1778 
she carried John Adams to France, he having been appointed 
a commissioner in place of Silas Deane, who had been recalled. 
On her way she captured three very valuable prizes, one of 
which, the Martha, was laden with bale goods to the amount, 
as was supposed, of £80,000. As Mr. Adams was upon urgent 
business, the Boston was not able to remain with her prize, 



NOTES. 75 

and it was subsequently retaken by tbe Bainbow. The Boston 
on her voyage made several narrow escapes from destruc- 
tion. Among other dangers, she was struck by lightning, 
which shattered her mast and came very nigh blowing her up, 
the fire when extinguished having nearly reached the maga- 
zine of powder. She reached Bordeaux, however, on the 1st 
April, in safety, and in consequence of the treaties of commerce 
and alliance having been signed before the arrival of Mr- 
Adams, that gentleman soon returned in her to America. On 
the 9th Aug., 1779, the Boston, in company with the ship 
Deane, Capt. Samuel Nicholson, captured off the capes of 
Virginia, the ship Glencairn, from Glasgow, of 20 guns and 
30 men ; on the 12th took the Sandwich packet from New 
York, bound to Falmouth, Eng., of 16 guns and 60 men ; on 
the 23d made a prize of the brigantine Venture, from Madeira, 
of 2 guns and 20 men ; and on the 24th captured the Thorn, 
of 18 guns, but mounting only 14, and having a crew of 135 
men. During the latter part of 1779 and the tore part of 1780, 
the Boston formed one of the squadron of Commodore Abra- 
ham Whipple, that cruised along the Southern coast, capturing 
a number of merchant vessels. While thus employed, she, 
with other American ships, on the appearance of the British 
fleet, put into Charleston, S. C, for safety, and on the surren- 
der of the city, May 12, 1780, she was one of the vessels that 
were captured by the enemy. 

Capt. IIectok McNeil was appointed by Congress to the 
command of the Boston frigate, June 15, 1776. He was with 



76 NOTES. 

Capt. Manly at the taking of the Fox, but when the Rainbow 
and Flora hove in view, he sought his own safety in flight, 
rendering his companion no assistance whatever. A court- 
martial was shortly afterwards held upon his conduct, when 
being found guilty of cowardice, he was dismissed the service 
forthwith. 

(12) This is not the only occasion when a deceased American 
prisoner was so interred. We give another instance, occurring much 
nearer home. 

"On the 4th day of Feb., 1841, some workmen, while 
engaged in digging away an embankment in Jackson street, 
near the Navy Yard, accidentally discovered a quantity of 
human bones, among which, horrible to relate, was a skeleton, 
having a pair of iron manacles still upon the wrists." 

Thompson's Hist, of Long Island, vol. i., p. 244. 

(13) The Greyhound was registered as a sixth-rate, carried 
24 guns, and was built about the year 1775, as successor to a 
20-gun ship which was broken up about that time. In the 
year 1776, our vessel was placed under the command of Capt. 
Archibald Dickson, and ordered to North America. She pro- 
ceeded to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she took General Howe 
on board as a passenger, and then sailed for New York, 
arriving at Sandy Hook on the 25th day of June. In the 
month of August following, she co-operated with the British 
army in the reduction of New York, and was one of the 



NOTES. 71 

frigates stationed in Gravesend Bay on the 22d of that month, 
to cover the landing of the troops. In 1779 she was one of 
the squadron of Sir George Collier, and in the month of August, 
assisted in the signal destruction of the American squadron, 
under Commodore Saltonstal, in Penohscot Bay, soon after 
which she returned to England with despatches. In the latter 
part of the year she composed one of the fleet of Sir George 
B. Rodney, in the West Indies, at which time she was under 
the orders of Capt. William Fookes, who was succeeded in 
command of her by Capt. William Fox. Under the latter 
officer the Greyhound was lost upon the South Sand Head in 
the year 1781. Her crew were saved. She was succeeded in 
the service by a 36-gun frigate of the same name, which Ave 
find building at Betts' Yard, in Mistleythorne, in the year 1783. 

(i 4 ) Archibald Dickson was made lieut., Sept. 19, 1759 ; 
commander, Jan. 10, 1771 ; and raised to rank of capt. in 1773. 
In 1776 he was appointed to the Greyhound frigate, and con- 
tinued in her for the usual period. He carried home the 
particulars of the destruction of the American fleet in Penob- 
scot Bay, and was presented by the British Admiralty with 
£500 for the intelligence he brought. In 1782 he commanded 
the Dublin, of 74 guns ; in 1787 the Goliah, of the same force, 
then employed as a guard-ship; and in 1793 the Egmont, also 
of 74 guns. He was made rear-admiral of the white in 1794, 
vice-admiral of the blue in 1795, admiral of the blue in 1801, 
and April 13, 1802, was created a baronet. He died in the 



7S NOTES. 

spring of 1805. Sir Archibald Dickson, Bt., was the brother 
of William Dickson, admiral of tbe blue, who died in 1803. 

(i 5 ) The Vulture was a British sloop-of-war, carrying 
14 guns, and was built about the year 1776. She was placed 
under the orders of James Feattus, and formed one of the 
fleet of Vice-admiral Lord Howe. She continued under Feattus 
until 1779, when Andrew Sutherland was appointed to com- 
mand her. In the summer of this year she formed one of the 
squadron of Sir George Collier that, in conjunction with a land 
force under Gen. Vaughan, captured Stony Point and Ver- 
planck's Point, on the Hudson. In the month of September 
of the following year, she conveyed Major Andre up the North 
River to hold the interview with Arnold, and was the vessel in 
which that arch traitor made his escape to the British lines. 
In 1782 she was at Jamaica, and was commanded by Walter 
Griffith, and in the latter part of the year following she was 
at Portsmouth. In 1793 she was reported as a hulk, and she 
appears to have been broken up or otherwise disposed of 
shortly afterwards. 

James Feattus was made lieut., 1757, and promoted to 
commander, July 7, 1701. In 1775 lie commanded the sloop 
Speedwell, and in 1776 was appointed to the Vulture. He 
died about the year 1785. 

(ic) Jonx Byeox, second son of William, the fourth Lord 
Byron by Frances, his third wife, 2d daughter of William Lord 



KOTES. TO 

Berkeley, of Stratton, was born Nov. 8, 1723. He served as 
a midshipman under Commodore Anson on his voyage round 
the world, and had the misfortune to be cast away in the 
Wager, on a desolate island, off the coast of Chili, where he 
suffered great hardships, an affecting account of which will be 
found in his "Narrative," to which we refer the reader. On 
the 30th Dec, 1746, he was made post-captain, and appointed 
to the Syren frigate. In 1753 he commanded the Augusta, of 
GO guns, and in 1757 the America, of the same force. In the 
spring of 1760 he commanded the Fame, of 74 guns, and was 
employed in the squadron which co-operated with the army at 
the conquest of Canada, where he rendered important service. 
In 1764 he made a voyage to the South Sea, and on the 3d 
June, 1769, was appointed Governor of Newfoundland. In 
March, 1775, he was made Rear-ad. of the blue, and in May, 
1777, Rear of the white. In Jan., 1778, he was made Vice-ad. 
of the blue, and was soon after appointed to the command of 
a large squadron, and ordered to North America. He sailed 
on the 9th of June, and on the 3d of July, a violent gale of 
wind arose, which dispersed his squadron, Admiral Byron, 
with his flag on board the Princess Royal, arriving alone off 
Sandy Hook on the 18th of August. He thence sailed for 
Halifax, where he found one of his squadron that had arrived 
before him. The remaining ships came in one by one, with 
sickly crews and damaged rigging. He was thence ordered to 
the West Indies, and his action there with D'Estaing, July G, 
1779, though undecisive, was honorable to the British fleet. 



80 NOTES. 

Soon after this event he returned to England and struck his 
flag. lie was raised to Vice-ad. of the white, Sept. G, 1780, 
and died in London, April 10, 1786, in his G3d year. Though 
a gallant, zealous and accomplished officer, he was extremely 
unfortunate, having always the elements to contend with 
instead of the enemy. Admiral Byron had a family of 2 sons 
and 7 daughters, hy Sarah, daughter of John Trevannion, Esq., 
of Cartrays, Cornwall, whom he married in 1748. Capt. 
Byron, one of his sons, was father to the celebrated poet. 

(i 7 ) The Peincess Royal was registered as a 2d rate, car- 
ried 98 guns, and was built at Portsmouth in 1773. Her 
length of gun-deck was 177 ft. 6 in., of keel, 145 ft. 5 in., 
breadth, 50 ft. 6 in., depth in hold, 21 ft., tons, 1,973. In 1777, 
on the prospect of a rupture with France, Capt. Mark Milbank 
Avas appointed to command her ; in May Vice-admiral Byron 
hoisted his flag on board, and on the 5th of June of the follow- 
ing year, she sailed in a strong squadron for America. In 
1779 she was commanded by Capt. William Blair, and on the 
Gth of July was in the action off Grenada with the French 
fleet, under LVEstaing, when she had 3 of her crew killed and 
G wounded. She returned home soon after. In Dec. she bore 
the flag of Rear-ad. Hyde Parker, and in the following year 
composed one of the fleet of Sir George Rodney, in the actions 
with the French fleet, under Comte de Guichen. In 1781 she 
was stationed at Jamaica, and she returned home in November. 
In 1782 she was under the orders of Jonathan Faulkner, and 



NOTES. 81 

in Sept. following, sailed in the fleet of Lord Howe to tlie 
relief of Gibraltar. In the action with the French and Spanish 
fleets off Cape Spartel, on the 20th Oct., she had a crew of 750 
men, and occupied the 1st or starboard division in the centre 
squadron in line of battle, which was under the immediate 
orders of the commander-in-chief. In Jan., 1783, she was at 
Portsmouth, composing one of the fleet on that station, under 
Sir Thomas Pye, Admiral of the white. In 1790, on a rupture 
with Spain being apprehended, Sir "William Hotham hoisted 
his flag on hoard her as commander of the rear division of the 
Channel fleet, but the dispute being accommodated, the fleet 
was dismantled, and Admiral Hotham struck his flag. In 
1793 she was one of the squadron of Vice-admiral Cosby; in 
the following year was under the orders of John Child Purvis, 
and formed one of the Mediterranean fleet, under Lord Hood. 
In 1795 Eear-ad. Goodall had his flag on board her, and she 
bore a part in the engagements with the French, March 14 
and July 13th, occupying, in the first engagement, the star- 
board division in the van squadron, and having a crew of 700 
men, of which 3 were killed and 8 Avounded. In 1796, being 
then still under Capt. Purvis, she bore the flag of Vice-ad. 
Robert Linzee, who was commander of a squadron in the 
Mediterranean, under Sir John Jervis, Admiral of the blue. In 
the following year she was under the orders of Capt. John 
Draper, and was the flag-ship of Sir John Orde, Rear-admiral 
of the white. In 1799 Capt. J. "W. T. Dickson was in com- 
mand of her, at which time she bore the flag of Rear-ad. 



82 NOTES. 

Thomas L. Frederick, and in July she returned home and 
went into repair. After coming out of dock, Thomas M. Eus- 
sel was appointed to her, and in 1800 she was one of the fleet 
of Admiral Lord Brjdport, employed on home service. In 
1801 she was under the orders of Capt. D. Atkins, and was 
the flag-ship of Sir Erasmus Gower, who held a command in 
the Channel fleet ; in 1803 she was under Capt. James Vashon, 
and in the year after was refitting at Chatham. In 180G she 
was commanded by Capt. E. C. Eeynolds, and she appears to 
have been broken up or otherwise disposed of about the 
year 1810. 

Mabk Milbank, said by some to have commanded this ship 
at this time, was the 3d son of Ralph Milbank, Bt., of Ilalnaby, 
York Co., and was born about 1721. He Avas made com- 
mander Sept. 13, 1T46, and capt., May 21, 1748. He was 
advanced to Rear-admiral of the white, March 19, 1779, to Vice 
of the blue, Sept., 20, 1750, and in 1793 became a full admiral. 
lie died on the 10th June, 1805, from a fall over the stair- 
case of his house, in the 84th year of his age. 

(i 8 ) Sib Eiciiabd IIucnES was the son of Sir Eichard 
Hughes, for many years commissioner of the Dock-yard at 
Eortsmouth, and was born in Deptford, Kent Co., Eng., in 
1729. When yet a boy, he went to sea as a midshipman, with 
his father, and in 1741 served in the Mediterranean, under 
Admiral Matthews. So young was he at this time, that he 



NOTES. 



83 



was under the necessity of shaving his head and wearing a 
whig to obtain a manly appearance. In 1745 he was made a 
lieut., and was promoted to the rank of captain, Nov. 10, 175G. 
He subsequently commanded the Fox and Thames frigates, 
and in 1768 was appointed to the Firm, of 60 guns, then a 
guard-ship at Plymouth. After quitting this ship, he was made 
capt. of the Worcester, of 64 gims, and in 1777 moved into the 
Centaur, a 74, then employed on the home station. He was 
afterwards appointed Lieut. Governor of Nova Scotia and com- 
missioner of the Dock-yard at Halifax. This station he filled 
until his promotion to Rear-ad. of the blue, Sept. 26, 1780, 
about which time he succeeded, on the death of his father, to 
the title of baronet. During his stay at Halifax, he caused 
the woods to be inspected and surveyed, obtained masts, spars 
and other naval stores for the government dock-yards, on the 
most advantageous terms, and his conduct otherwise was so 
meritorious, that on his return home he was honored by the 
king with a private audience, and received his Majesty's 
thanks. He became Yice-ad. of the blue in 1790, and on the 
14th Feb., 1799, was raised to Admiral of the white. He died 
on the 5th day of January, 1812. Sir Richard was an active 
and gallant officer, and in private life possessed all the qualities 
of a well-bred gentleman. He had a taste for the belles lettres, 
and possessed also considerable poetical talent. His wife, 
to whom he was united about 1760, was the grand-niece of the 
celebrated Sir Hans Sloane, and daughter of Hans Sloane, Esq., 
M.P., a wealthy and respectable Commoner. 



84 NOTES. 

(19) The Hazard was a British sloop-of-war, mounting. 8 
guns, and appears to have been built about 1763. In 1767 
she was under the orders of Denis Every, and was in the 
fleet of Vice-admiral Holburne, on home service. In 1769 she 
was commanded by Thos. Premble, and was at Sheerness, and 
in 1770 was under the orders of James Orrock, who was suc- 
ceeded in command of her by John Ford. In 1778 and the 
year following, she was commanded by Alex. Agnew, in 1780 
by G. A. Pulteney, and in the year following by I. Pellew. 
She appears to have been removed from service soon after- 
wards. 

Alexander Agxew was made lieut., Aug. 7, 1761, and 
raised to commander, Nov. 20, 1771. In 1779 he commanded 
the Hazard sloop, and in 1781 Avas in command of the sloop 
Fury of 16 guns. He appears to have died or retired from the 
service about 1782. 

(20) The French fleet, under M. D'Orvilliers, consisting of 
28 sail of the line and several frigates, sailed from Brest, 
June 4, 1779, for Cadiz, where it formed a junction with the 
Spanish fleet. The combined fleet, consisting of 66 sail of the 
line, on the 15th Aug. following, escaping the notice of the 
English fleet, under Sir Charles Hardy, then cruising in the 
soundings, sailed up the English Channel, and paraded for three 
days before Plymouth, insulting the English coast, capturing 
several coasting vessels, and bidding defiance to the whole 



NOTES. 85 

navy: This circumstance greatly tarnished the naval charac- 
ter of England. 

(ji) The Peincess Amelia was registered as a 3d rate, 
carried 80 guns, and was built in 1757. In the year following 
she was commanded by Capt. John Bray, and composed one 
of the fleet, under Admiral Boscawen, at the reduction of 
Lewisbourg and Quebec. In Sept., 1759, she was under the 
orders of Stephen Colby, was the flag- ship of Thomas Brode- 
rick, Eear-ad. of the white, and formed one of the fleet of Sir 
Edward Hawke that was fitted out against Eochfort, and the 
following year she was under Capt. James Montague, in Admi- 
ral Boscawen's fleet in Quiberon Bay. In the spring of 17G1 
she was in the squadron of Capt. Matthew Buckle, stationed 
off Brest, to prevent supplies being sent to Belle Isle, and the 
year after she was under the orders of Capt. Viscount Howe, 
was the flag-ship of the Duke of York, and composed one of 
tbe fleet sent in quest of M. de Ternay, and subsequently one 
of the fleet of Sir Charles Ilardy, that made a cruise in the 
bay. In 1763 she was under Capt. E. A. Tyrrell, and in 1766 
was at Portsmouth. We find her on that station until 1772, 
when she was commanded by Capt. Samuel Marshall, was the 
flag-ship of Vice-ad. Geo. B. Eodney, and stationed at Jamaica. 
In the latter part of the year she returned home, and was laid 
up at Portsmouth. On the approach of a rupture with 
France, which took place in 1778, Capt. Digby Dent was 
appointed to her, and she formed one of the fleet then fitting 



86 NOTES. 

for sea at Portsmouth, at which time Sir Thomas Pye had his 
flag on hoard. In 1780 she was commanded by Capt. John 
McCartney, and was one of the fleet of Admiral Geary, then 
cruising in the Soundings, and the year after, she was the flag- 
ship of Sir Hyde Parker, and bore a part in the action with 
the Dutch fleet, under Rear-ad. Zoutman, off the Dogger Bank, 
Aug. 5. In this engagement, Capt. McCartney and a gunner 
were killed and three lieuts. wounded. After the death of 
McCartney, the command of the ship was given to John 
McBride, and she returned home soon after the battle. In 
June, 1782, being then under the orders of Billy Douglas, she 
formed one of the squadron of Lord Howe, cruising in the 
jSTorth Sea, and in July she was cruising with Howe in the 
Soundings. In October she was commanded by Capt. John 
Reynolds, was the flag-ship of Sir Richard Hughes, and was 
one of the fleet of Admiral Lord Howe, that sailed to the 
relief of Gibraltar, and had a partial action off Cape Spartel 
with the French and Spanish fleets. On this occasion she was 
in the 2d or starboard division in the rear squadron, and of a 
crew of 715 men, had -1 killed and 5 wounded. She was sub- 
sequently on duty in the "West Indies, under John "W. Payne, 
and the year after returned to England. She came to anchor 
at Chatham, where she was turned into a church ship. She 
was used in that capacity until about 1788, shortly after which 
she was broken up. Her place was supplied by a 74-gun slap 
of the same name, which in 1800 was building in the king's 
yard at Chatham. 



NOTES. 



87 



Digby Dent was the son of Capt. Cotton Dent, who died in 
17G1, one of the captains of Greenwich Hospital. The subject 
of our notice Avas made capt., July 7, 1758. In 1778, being 
then capt. of the Princess Amelia, he received the honor of 
knighthood at the time the king reviewed the fleet at Ports- 
mouth. On the 24th Sept., 1787, he was advanced to the 
rank of Kear-admiral, and placed upon the superannuated list. 
He died, Nov. 15, 1798, leaving his widow and eight children 
in very distressed circumstances. 

(aa) The Britannia was a British ship of the line, registered 
as a 1st rate, carrying 100 guns, and was built at Portsmouth, 
Eng., in 1762, to take the place of another ship of the same 
name and force, which was about that time abandoned. The 
dimensions of our vessel were as follows : length of gun-deck, 
178 feet ; keel, 145 feet 2 in. ; breadth, 52 ft. )i in. ; depth in 
hold, 21 ft. 6 in. ; tons, 2,091. After being stationed at Ports- 
mouth for several years, in the latter part of 1778, Capt. John 
Moutray was appointed to her, she being intended as a flag- 
ship. At the close of the following year, we find her under 
the command of -Capt. Charles Morice Pole, and the flag-ship 
of George Darby, Vice-ad. of the white, he being at that time 
the second in command of the Channel fleet, under Sir Charles 
Hardy. In 1780 she was under the orders of Capt. James 
Bradby, and was the flag-ship of the fleet, under Vice-ad. 
Darby, that sailed from Spithead on the 14th day of March, 
1781, with a large convoy of victuallers, transports, etc., to the 



SS NOTES. 

relief of Gibraltar. In December she was tbe flag-ship of 
Kichard Kempenfelt, Eear-ad. of the white, and was one of his 
squadron which on the 13th of that month intercepted the 
French West India convoy that had sailed from Brest under 
the command of M. de Guichen. In July, 1782, being then 
under the orders of Capt. Benjamin Hill, she formed one of the 
fleet of Admiral Lord Howe, cruising in the Soundings, at 
which time Samuel Barrington, Vice-ad. of the white, had his 
flag on board her. She subsequently accompanied Lord Howe 
to intercept the Dutch squadron, and was afterwards at the 
relief of Gibraltar. In the subsequent encounter which took 
place with the combined fleets of France and Spain, off Cape 
Spartel, Oct. 20th, she was in the 1st or starboard division in 
line of battle, which division was commanded by Vice-ad. 
Barrington, whose flag-ship she then was. In this engage- 
ment, she had 20 of her crew killed and wounded. After this 
she returned to England, and was put out of commission. On 
the commencement of the war with France, in 1793, she was 
again put in service, being then under the orders of Capt. John 
Ilolloway, and the flag-ship of Vice-ad. Lord Hotham, who 
was appointed the second in command of the Mediterranean 
fleet, under Lord Hood. On the return of the latter to Eng- 
land in Nov., 1794, tbe command of the squadron became 
invested in Vice-ad. Hotham, who was employed during the 
winter in watching the enemy's ports, scouring their coasts, 
and affording protection to British commerce, and in the 
month of November, of the following year, she returned home, 



NOTES. 89 

and was again laid up. In January, 1796, Capt. Shnldham 
Pearl was appointed to her, and in May following he was suc- 
ceeded by Capt. Thomas Foley, with Vice-ad. Sir Hyde 
Parker's flag. In April, 1797, she was the flag-ship of Charles 
Thomson, Vice-ad. of the blue, and was doing duty in the 
Mediterranean, being one of the fleet stationed there, under 
the command of Sir John Jervis, Admiral of the blue. In the 
month of June, Capt. Edward Marsh was appointed to com- 
mand her, shortly after which she Avas fitted up as a hospital- 
ship, at Portsmouth, and placed under the orders of Lieut. 
Matthew Connolly. In this capacity we find her in the year 
1798 and 1799, and perhaps for several years later. In the 
year 1803, on the commencement of hostilities, having been 
thoroughly overhauled, she was placed under the command 
of Earl ISTorthesk, and proceeded to the Channel, where she 
served in the fleet stationed there till the following year, when 
her capt., being promoted Eear-ad. of the white, he soon after 
hoisted his flag on board her, and continued on the same 
service till August, 1805, when he was detached with a squad- 
ron, under Sir Eobert Calder, to reinforce the fleet of Admiral 
Collingwood, off Cadiz. The Britannia was subsequently in 
the engagement off Trafalgar, where she was the 4th ship in 
the lee line in action, and in a short space of time completely 
dismantled a French ship of 80 guns. She afterwards, singly, 
engaged and kept at bay three of the enemy's van ships, that 
were attempting to double upon the Victory, at that time 
warmly engaged with two of the enemy, and much disabled. 



90 NOTES. 

On this occasion the loss of the Britannia was 52 killed and 
wounded. Soon after the engagement, the Britannia returned 
to England, and was not again put into commission. She 
appears to have been broken up about 1813, at which time we 
find building at Plymouth a 120-gun ship of the same name, 
the successor to the subject of our notice. 

Charles Morice Pole was the 2d son of Reginald Pole, Esq., 
of Stroke Damarell, and was born Jan. 18, 1757. He was 
made lieut. in 1773, and obtained post-rank, March 22, 1779. 
He was made Pear-admiral of the blue, June 1, 1795, Vice- 
admiral in 1801, and knighted about the same time. In 1805 
he was raised to Admiral of the blue, and in 1818 received 
the Grand Cross of the Bath. He died about the year 1830. 

(23) Sir Thomas Pye was made Capt., April 13, 1741. In 
1745 he was one of the members of the court martial convened 
at Port Mahon for the trial of Capt. Richard Norris. In 1748 
he was appointed to the Norwich, in the following year to the 
Ilumber, and in the year after was one of the members of the 
court martial held for the trial of the mutineers on board the 
Chesterfield. In Feb., 1752, he was appointed to the Advice, 
of 50 guns, and sent to the West Indies as Commodore on that 
station. He continued there until_175G, when he was super- 
seded by Commodore Frankland. Charges having been made 
against him by Mr. Frankland, our officer, in 1758, was brought 
to a court martial at Portsmouth, when he was reprimanded 



NOTES. 91 

for misconduct. In July following he was made Rear-ad. of 
the blue; in 1759, Rear of the white; in 1760, Rear of the 
red; and in 1762, was advanced to Vice-ad. of the blue. In 
1764 he was appointed Port-admiral at Plymouth, and after 
serving some time in that position, was again sent to the 
Leeward Island station, where he remained until 1770, when 
he returned home. On the 28th of October following, he was 
made Vice-ad. of the red, and early the succeeding year was 
sent to the Mediterranean as commander of a small squadron. 
On his return home he was appointed commander-in-chief at 
Portsmouth. On the 25th of June, 1773, when the king 
reviewed the fleet and dockyards at that station, our officer 
received the honor of knighthood, and w r as raised to the rank 
of Admiral of the blue. On the 28th of Jan., 1778, he was 
advanced to Admiral of the white, and in the same year he 
acted as President of the court martial held at Portsmouth for 
the trial of Admiral Keppel. In 1779 he again commanded at 
Portsmouth, and in 1780 was made Lieut. -general of marines. 
He died at Marylebone, Feb. 23, 1785. Admiral Pye was one 
of those men of ordinary capacity, on whom fortune, not 
merit, often bestows the highest honors. With an awkward 
figure, and an address by no means pleasing, he was fond of 
show, and much addicted to intrigue ; and to a narrow under- 
standing and shallow attainments, he united an inordinate 
degree of personal vanity and supercilious consequence. It is 
painful to see one, who was never signalized by any brilliant 
achievement, rise by rapid strides to naval rank, and the 



92 NOTES. 

really brave and -worthy tar pine away in anguish and despair, 
and die unnoticed and forgotten. 

(24) The Peixcess Eoyal Indiaraan was captured by the 
French in the Straits of Sunda, in the year 1793. At the time 
of her capture, she was under the command of J. Ilorncastle. 

(23) We find the following notices of two of these ships : 

" The Ceres, Hawke, and other East India ships, arrived at 
Crookhaven, in Ireland, in December, 1781." 

Gentlemen's Magazine, 1781. 

"The Hawke sailed for Bengal on the 16th of November, 
1783, and was to be returned from thence to Bombay with a 
cargo of rice, and then to proceed to China." 

Gentlemen's Magazine, 1783. 

(as) The English East India Company was incorporated by 
Queen Elizabeth in 1600, and was empowered to carry on an 
exclusive trade with "all those new countries to the eastward 
of the Cape of Good Hope." About the year 1698, application 
being made to Parliament by private merchants for laying this 
trade open, an act was passed empowering every subject of 
England, upon raising a sum for the supply of government, to 
trade to those parts. Upon this, a great many persons sub- 
scribed, and the association thus formed, was called the New 
East India Company. The old company, being masters of all 
the forts on the coast of India, the New Company found it 



NOTES. 93 

to their interest to unite with them, which they did, and the 
trade was henceforth carried on with the joint stock, under 
the style of the United East India Company. The company 
was formed for purely commercial purposes, and during the 
first hundred and fifty years of its existence, retained its com- 
mercial character, only comhiuing with it so much of warlike 
enterprise and precaution as was necessary to secure its richly 
laden ships from heing plundered by the fleets of pirates that 
infested the Indian Seas, and its factories from being burnt or 
pillaged in the never-ending wars and rebellions among the 
native chiefs. The company, however, gradually became a 
corporation of conquerors, and then assumed all the functions 
of the government of an immense empire, surrendering gradu- 
ally the operations of traffic to individual merchants, who 
traded under the shelter of its power. The discipline prac- 
ticed on board the East India ships was extremely severe. 
The charter of the company expired within a few years past. 

(27) The following articles we take from the newspapers of the day : 
"Loxdox, August 5. 

" As every Kebel, who is taken prisoner has incurred the 
pain of death by the law martial, it is said that government 
will charter several transports, after their arrival at Boston, to 
carry the culprits to the East Indies for the Company's service, 
as it is the intention of government only to punish the ring- 
leaders and commanders cajyitally, and to suffer the inferior 



94 NOTES. 

Kebels to redeem their lives by entering into the East India 
Company's service. This translation will only render them 
more useful subjects than in their native country." 

* * * * * * H= 

Holts 7 N. Y. Journal, Thurs., Oct. 19, 1775. No. 1711. 

"A Letter from Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane, 

Esquires, to Lord Stormont, TnE English: Ambassador 

at Paris. 

Paris, April 2, 1777. 
My Lord, — 

"We did ourselves the honor of writing some time 
since to your Lordship on the subject of exchanging prisoners; 
you did not condescend to give us any answer, and therefore 
we expect none to this : we however take the liberty of send- 
ing you copies of certain depositions which we shall transmit 
to Congress, whereby it will be known to your Court, that the 
United States are not unacquainted with the barbarous treat- 
ment their people receive when they have the misfortune of 
being your prisoners here in Europe ; and that if your conduct 
towards us is not altered, it is not unlikely that severe repri- 
sals may be thought justifiable, from the necessity of putting 
some check to such abominable practice. 

For the sake of humanity it is to be wished that men would 
endeavour to alleviate as much as possible the unavoidable 
miseries attending a state of war. It has been said, that 
among the civilized nations of Europe the ancient horrors of 
that state are much diminished ; but the compelling men by 
chains, stripes and famine to fight against their friends and 



NOTES. 95 

relations, is a new mode of barbarity which your nation alone 
has the honor of inventing, and the sending American prisoners 
of war to Africa and Asia, remote from all probability of 
exchange, and where they can scarce hope ever to hear from 
their families, even if the unwholesomeness of the climate 
does not put a speedy end to their lives, is a manner of treating 
captives, that you can justify by no other precedent or custom, 
except that of the black savages of Guinea. 

We are, your Lordship's most obedient humble Servants, 

B. Fkanklijt, 
Lord Viscount S. Deane. 

Stormoxt." 

" To the above letter the following insolent reply was made : 
" 'The King's Ambassador receives no Letters from Rebels, 
except when they come to ask mercy.' " 

Copy of the Depositions above eefereed to. 

" The Deposition of Eliphalet Downer, Surgeon, taken in 
the Yankee privateer, is as follows : 

That after he was made prisoner by Captains Ross & Hodge, 
who took advantage of the generous conduct of Capt. Johnson 
of the Yankee to them his prisoners, and of the confidence he 
placed in them in consequence of that conduct and their 
assurances, he and his countrymen were closely confined, yet 
assured that on their arrival in port they should be set at 
liberty, and these assurances were repeated in the most solemn 
manner, instead of which, on their approach to land they were, 



96 NOTES. 

in the hot weather of August, shut up in a small cabin, the 
windows of which were spiked down and no air admitted in, 
so much that they were all in danger of suffocation from the 
excessive heat. Three or four days after their arrival in the 
river Thames, they were relieved from this situation in the 
middle of the night, hurried on board a tender and sent 
down to Sheerness, where the deponent was put into the 
Ardent, and there falling sick of a violent fever in consequence 
of such treatment, and languishing in that situation for some 
time, he was removed still sick to the Mars, and notwithstand- 
ing repeated petitions to be suffered to be sent to prison on 
shore, he was detained until having the appearance of a morti- 
fication in his legs, he was sent to Haslar hospital, from Avhence 
after recovering his health, he had the good fortune to make 
his escape. "While on board those ships and in the hospital, 
he was informed and believes that many of his countrymen, 
after experiencing even worse treatment than he, were sent to 
the East Indies, and many of those taken at Quebec were sent 
to the coast of Africa as soldiers." 

" The Deposition of Captain Seth Clark, of Newbury Port, in 
the State of Massachusetts-Bay, in America, is as follows : 

That on his return from Cape Nlchola Mole to Newbury 
Port, he was taken on the 17th of September last by an armed 

Schooner in his Britannic Majesty's service, Coats, Esq., 

Commander, and carried down to Jamaica ; on his arrival at 
which place, he was sent on board the Squirrel, another armed 



NOTES. 97 

vessel, Douglass, Esq., Commander, where, although 

master and half owner of the vessel in which he was taken, 
he was turned as a common sailor before the mast, and in that 
situation sailed for England in the month of November, on the 
25th of which month they took a schooner from Port a Pe to 
Oharlestown, South Carolina, to which place she belonged, 
when the owner Mr. Burt, and the master Mr. Bean, were 
brought on board ; on the latter's denying he had any ship 
papers, Capt. Douglass ordered him to be stripped, tied up and 
then whipped with a wire cat of nine tails that drew blood 
every stroke, and then on his saying that he had thrown his 
papers over board; he was untied and ordered to his duty as a 
common sailor, with no place for himself or people to lay on 
but the decks. On their arrival at Spithead, the deponent 
was removed to the Monarch, and there ordered to do duty as 
a fore-mast man, and on his refusing on account of inability to 
do it, he was threatened by the Lieutenant, a Mr. Stoney, 
that if he spoke one word to the contrary, he should be 
brought to the gang-way and there severely flogged. 

After this he was again removed and put on board the Bar- 
fleur, where he remained till the 10th of February. On board 
this ship the deponent saw several American prisoners, who 
were closely confined and ironed, with only four men's allow- 
ances to six. These prisoners and others informed this depo- 
nent that a number of American prisoners had been taken out 
of the ship and sent to the East Indies and the coast of Africa, 
which he was told would have been his fate, had he arrived 



98 NOTES. 

sooner. This deponent further saith, That in Haslar hospital, 

to which place, on account of sickness, he was removed from 

the Barfleur, he saw a Captain Chase, of Providence, New 

England, who told him, that he had been taken in a sloop of 

which he was half owner and master, on his passage from 

Providence to South Carolina, by an English transport, and 

turned over to a ship of war, where he was confined in irons 

13 weeks, insulted, beat and abused by the petty officers and 

common sailors, and on being released from irons was ordered 

to do duty as a fore-mast man until his arrival in England, 

when being dangerously ill, he was sent to said hospital. 

Paeis, March 30, 1777." 

Pennsylvania Journal, Aug. G, 1777. 

(as) The Jack is the fruit grown on the Jack tree, Artocaipus 
jaca, and is eatable, being of a pleasant flavor. The Jack 
belongs to the Artocarpece family, which are confined entirely 
to the tropics. The fruit which was eaten by our hero and 
his companion, and which is also confined to the tropics, was 
the Manchineal, Hippomane mancinella, of the family of 
Ficarium Cochinchinense, some of the fruit of which is eatable. 
The Manchineal is very beautiful and attractive in its appear- 
ance, and very pleasant when first tasted, but soon becomes so 
caustic as to corrode the mouth, and occasions severe vomit- 
ing, resulting in death. It is exceedingly poisonous, and is 
often mistaken for the jaca. 



NOTES. 



09 



(29) "We find the following notice of this ship in one of the papers 
of the day : 

"London, Oct. 31. 

Capt. Eogers, of the Stormont, East Indiainan, on her pas- 
sage to St. Helena, took a French snow under American colors, 
of which he first learned of hostilities being commenced 
between England and France. Capt. Eogers, thinking himself 
in danger of being taken, if he continued with his prize, 
released her, joined the other ships, and acquainted them with 
the dangerous situation they were in, but fortunately saw no 

privateers or French men-of-war." 

Holt's N. Y. Journal, Mon., March 1, 1779. 

(30) The Renown was a 4th rate, carried 50 guns, and was 
built in 1774 as successor to a 40-gun ship which had been 
broken up. In 1775 our vessel was placed under the orders 
of Capt. Francis Banks, and ordered to North America, and in 
the following year she formed one of the fleet of Vice-ad. Lord 
Howe on that station. In September she was one of the 
squadron under Sir Peter Parker that co-operated with the 
army under Sir William Howe, in the reduction of New York. 
On the 18th day of June, 1777, Capt. Banks died while in 
command of his vessel, and was succeeded by John Bour- 
master. In the following year she was under the orders of 
George Dawson, and in the month of August, was one of Lord 
Howe's fleet off Sandy Hook, in the presence of the French 
fleet. Here she fell in with the Tonnant, of 84 guns, and gave 
her several broadsides, but other French vessels coming up, 



100 NOTES. 

the Eenown was ohliged to sheer off. Subsequently she 
engaged the Languedoc, of 90 guns, D'Estaing's own ship, 
which had lost all her masts, and in that condition was met 
by Oapt. Dawson, who attacked her with resolution, pouring 
several broadsides into her, carrying away her rudder, and 
doing her other damage, but the darkness of night prevented 
him from taking her. On the 5th day of July, 1779, the 
Eenown was one of a squadron, under Sir George Collier, that 
co-operated with a body of troops, under Major-General 
Try on, in the destruction of Fairfield, Norwalk and Greenfield, 
and in February, 1780, she was one of a squadron that sailed 
from New York, under Vice-ad. Arbuthnot, to co-operate with 
Sir Henry Clinton in the reduction of Charleston, South Caro- 
lina. In 1781 she was under the command of John Henry, 
and in December of that year, she formed one of a squadron, 
under Eear-ad. Kempenfelt, that was sent to intercept the 
French West India convoy, which had sailed from Brest, under 
the command of M. de Guichen. In 1782 and the following 
year she was one of the squadron in North America, under 
command of Eobert Digby, Eear-admiral of the red. She 
returned to England at the establishment of peace, and in 1784 
was undergoing repairs at Chatham. She appears to have 
been broken up about 1796, in which year we find her successor, 
a 74-gun ship, building at Dudman's Yard in Deptford. 

Jonx Henry was made lieut., April 27, 1757, promoted to 
commander, April 16, 1777, and raised to the rank of captain 



NOTES. 101 

on the 22d day of November following. In 1778 he com- 
manded the 24-gun ship Fowey, and in the month of May of 
that year, in conjunction with a land force, under Major 
Maitland, destroyed the American magazines then erecting in 
the Delaware, and captured the 32-gun frigate "Washington 
and 28-gun frigate Effingham, besides a brig and a sloop. In 
1780 he was promoted to the Providence, of 32 guns, an 
American frigate captured at Charleston, and in the following 
year was appointed to the Eenown, of 50 guns, in which he 
continued to the end of the war. Capt. Henry died on the 
6th day of August, 1829. 

(31) The SnARK was a British sloop of 16 guns, and was 
launched at Hull in 1780. Her predecessor had been pur- 
chased by Sir George Eodney, and sailed with him to the 
"West Indies, but foundered on the way. Howell Lloyd, her 
captain, and part of her crew perished. The sloop which is 
the subject of our notice was in 1781 under the command of 
Isaac Yailliant, and in the year following formed one of the 
squadron in the "West Indies, under Commodore Johnston, at 
which time she was commanded by Robert McDouall. In 
1783 she was under the orders of John Maitland, and was 
cruising in the North Seas, and in the succeeding year she was 
commanded by Valentine Edwards, and employed on home 
service. She continued under the latter commander for the 
usual period, and was then put out of commission. In 1701 
she was under the orders of Hon. A. K. Legge, and was 



102 NOTES. 

employed as a cruiser in the English and Irish Channels until 
1793, when, being under command of Scory Barker, she 
formed one of the squadron of Sir Richard King, at Newfound- 
land. She was subsequently under J. O'Brien, and during the 
three following years was attached to the squadron of Sir 
James "Wallace, who had succeeded King as commander on 
that station. After this, she was on duty in the North Sea, 
under Francis Warren, and she appears to have been succeeded 
in 1799 by another sloop of the same name and force. 

Isaac Vailliaxt was the eldest son of Paul Vailliant, an 
eminent bookseller, who held at one time the office of Sheriff 
of London. The subject of our note was made lieut., Nov. 25, 
1761; commander, Oct. 8, 1777; and capt., Nov. 23, 1780. 
In 1777 he commanded the Nabob, an armed vessel, and in 
1780 was appointed to the sloop Shark. He was made a 
superannuated Bear-admiral in 1799, and died at Riacknell 
Banks, Oct. 25, 1S04, aged 65 years. 

(32) This vessel was lost in November, 1805, near the island 
of Fernando de Norhonha, in the South Atlantic Ocean. She 
was then used as an artillery transport ship. Her crew and 
the artillery troops that had embarked in her, were all taken 
off before she sunk. Brig.-Gen. York, of the artillery, was 
drowned while endeavoring to reach the shore. 

(33) The AixpniTEiTE was registered as a sixth-rate, carried 
24 guns, and was built in 1778. In the month of May she was 



NOTES. 103 

commanded by Thos. Gaborian. la October. 1779, sbe was 
under the command of Capt. James Montague, and was cruis- 
ing off the coast of Spain. In 1780 sbe was under the orders 
of Capt. Eobert Biggs, and was one of the squadron, under 
Rear-admiral Thomas Graves, that sailed on the 17th of May 
for America. In the year following she sailed from Sandy 
Hook in Admiral Graves' fleet for the Chesapeake. In March, 
1782, she took the brig Peggy from Virginia, bound to the 
West Indies, with a cargo of flour, and in April following she 
took the privateer ship Franklin. In October, in company 
with another vessel, she captured two brigs laden with lum- 
ber, a ship with silks, from Bilboa, and a privateer schooner, 
as well as retook two brigs from Virginia, laden with tobacco. 
She returned to England at the restoration of peace, and went 
into repair at "Woolwich. In 1793 we find her again in com- 
mission, she being then under the orders of Capt. Anthony 
Hunt, 2d, and being one of a squadron of ships that sailed from 
Spithead for the Mediterranean on the 22d of May, under the 
command of Vice-ad. Lord Howe. She was wrecked soon 
after reaching her station, by striking upon a sunken rock. 
Her captain and crew were all saved. She was succeeded in 
the navy by a 28-gun frigate that was formerly the Pomona, 
built at Southampton in 1778 and broken up in 1811. 

PvObeet Biggs was made lieut., Aug. 7, 1701 ; commander, 
Jan. 10, 1771 ; and raised to the rank of captain, March 18, 
1778. In 1771 he commanded the Grace, an armed cutter, 



10-i NOTES. 

and in 1774 the sloop Favorite, of 16 guns. In 1778 he com- 
manded the Lively, of 20 guns, and on the 8th day of July of 
that year, having been ordered to watch the motions of the 
French fleet off Brest, under Compte D'Orvilliers, upon a fog 
clearing up, he found himself in the midst of the enemy, 
whereupon he was compelled to strike his colors. In 1780 he 
was appointed to the Amphitrite, of 24 guns, and ordered to 
North America, on which station he remained till the end of 
the war, when he returned home. He was made Rear-ad. of 
the white in 1795, Yice-ad. of the blue in 1799, and in the 
year following was raised to Vice-ad. of the white. He died 
at Catisfield, Hants, on the 11th day of July, 1803. 

(34) The AMPniou was a fifth-rate British frigate, mounting 
32 guns, and was launched at Chatham, Dec. 25th, 1780. Her 
dimensions were as follows: Length of gun-deck, 126 ft. 1 in.; 
of keel, 104 ft. 3 in.; breadth, 35 ft.; depth, 12 ft. 2 in.; 
tons, 679. As soon as she was equipped and ready for service, 
she was placed under the command of Capt. John Bazely ; and 
in the spring of 1781, in company with the Ostridge sloop of 
war, commanded by Sir Jacob Wheate, and the armed ship 
Britannia, convoyed to America 23 sail of transports, with 
about 3,000 German troops, arriving at New York in the 
month of August, after a passage of 93 days. On the 10th 
day of September, she formed one of a small squadron, under 
Capt. Bazely, which in conjunction with a land force, under 
Gen. Arnold, destroyed the town of New London, with several 



NOTES. 105 

magazines of stores, and all the shipping in the harbor. In 
October following she was one of the fleet, under Rear-ad. 
Digby, that sailed from New York to the relief of Cornwallis 
at Yorktown. In the line of battle she was one of the frigates 
attached to the centre division, whicli was under the com- 
mand of Thomas Graves, Rear-ad. of the red. In the month 
of February, 1782, being on a cruise, in company with the 
Cyclops frigate, of 28 guns, she captured the Lamblaset, a 
large French ship, of 1G guns, from Guadaloupe, bound to 
Virginia, and in the following month she took the French 
ship La Favourite, of 16 guns, bound from Bayonne in France, 
to Philadelphia. In May, following, the Amphion made a 
prize of the schooner Governor Livingston, Captain Moses 
Griffin, bound from St. Vincent to Philadelphia, and in Novem- 
ber she took a sloop, bound from St. Croix to Rhode Island, 
where she was owned, commanded by Capt. "Whipple, and 
laden with a valuable cargo of rum. The Amphion remained 
on the American station, under Capt. Bazely, until the end of 
the war, when she returned home. After being overhauled at 
Woolwich, Capt. John Brown was appointed to her, and he 
was succeeded by Capt. Henry Nichols, who in his turn gave 
up the command to Capt. Herbert Sawyer, under whom, in 
1793, she formed one of the fleet of Rear-ad. Kingsmill, on the 
Irish station. In the following year she appears as one of the 
squadron at Newfoundland, under Rear-ad. Sir James Wallace. 
In 1795 Capt. Israel Pellew was appointed to her, under whom 
she continued a short time at Newfoundland, and returned 



106 NOTES. 

home the following year. She subsequently cruised a short 
time in the Xorth Sea, and was then ordered to join the 
squadron of frigates, under Sir Edward Pellew, employed oft' 
the coast of France. On her way thither, having sustained 
some damage in a hard gust of wind, she put into Plymouth 
for repair. She anchored in the Sound, Sept. 19, 1796, and 
went into the harbor the following morning. On the 22d, at 
about half-past 4 p.m., a violent shock, like that of an earth- 
quake, was felt at Stonehouse, and extended as far off as the 
Royal Hospital and the town of Plymouth. The sky towards 
the dock appeared red like the effect of a fire, and for nearly 
a quarter of an hour the streets were crowded with people 
running to and fro in the utmost consternation. When the 
alarm and confusion had somewhat subsided, it was ascertained 
that the shock had been caused by the explosion of the 
Amphion. The upper works in the fore part of the ship had 
been blown to atoms, and she had almost immediately sunk in 
ten fathoms of water. As the ship was expected to sail the 
next day, there were nearly 300 persons on board at the time 
of the calamity. About 100 of these were visitors, who had 
come to take leave of their friends and relatives before their 
departure. Of the large number on board, not more than 40 
were saved, and the greater portion of these were more or 
less injured. Capt. Pellew, her commander, was severely 
wounded, but recovered. Capt. Swaffield, of the Overyssel, 
who was at dinner with him, was killed, as were also most of 
the officers who were on board at the time. Several bodies 



NOTES. 107 

were picked up by the boats. Most of tbose wbo remained 
alive were conveyed in a mangled state to the Royal Hospital. 
Arms, legs, and lifeless trunks were collected and deposited at 
the Hospital for identification. As the ship had been originally 
manned from Plymouth, the number of people who were 
afterwards seen there in deep mourning for their lost relatives, 
was truly melancholy. The explosion is supposed to have 
been caused by the carelessness of the gunner in going among 
the gunpowder, without using the necessary precautions. The 
Amphion was succeeded by a frigate of the same name and 
force, which was built at Betts' yard, in Mistleythorne, in the 
year 1798. 

John Bazely was born in Dover, in the county of Kent, 
Eng., about 1740. He entered the navy in 1755, and became 
lieut., April 7, 1760. On the 22d Sept., 1777, while in com- 
mand of the Alert cutter, of 10 guns and GO men, he captured 
the brig Lexington, of 16 guns and 84 men, of whom 7 were 
killed and 11 wounded. The Alert had 2 killed and 3 wounded. 
For this achievement he was promoted to the rank of com- 
mander. On the 15th April, 1778, he was advanced to post- 
captain in the Formidable, of 90 guns, the flag-ship of Sir 
Hugh Palliser, in the fleet under the command of Admiral 
Keppel. In the action off Brest on the 27th July, he was, of 
course, present, and his ship had a greater number of killed 
and wounded than any other of the fleet. Capt. Bazely was 
subsequently moved to the Pegasus, of 28 guns. On the 8th 



108 NOTES. 

Jan., 1780, he participated in the capture of a valuable Spanish 
convoy, and on the lGth of the same month was engaged in 
the action with the Spanish fleet off Cadiz. He afterwards, 
for a short time, commanded the frigate Apollo, and was then 
appointed to the Amphion, of 32 guns, in which he continued 
to the end of the American war. On the return of peace he 
was appointed to the Alfred, of 74 guns, then a guard-ship at 
Chatham, and was subsequently under Howe in the memorable 
engagement of 1st June, 1794. He afterwards moved to the 
Blenheim, of 98 guns, and served in her, under Admiral, Lord 
Hotham, in the Mediterranean. On the 1st June, 1795, he 
was made Rear-ad. of the white, and by subsequent promotions 
attained the rank of Vice-ad. of the red. He died at Dover, 
April 6, 1809, at the age of 09 years. 

( 36 ) The "Jersey " was originally a British ship of the line. 
She was registered as a 4th-rate, carried 60 guns, and was 
built in 1736, as successor to a 50-gun ship, which had been 
condemned as unfit for further duty. The first service of our 
ship was in 1737, when she was one of the Channel fleet, under 
Sir John Norris. In 1739 she was commanded by Edmund 
Williams, and composed one of the Mediterranean fleet, under 
Rear-admirals Nicholas Haddock and Sir Chaloner Ogle, and 
she was subsequently one of the squadron that was designed 
against Ferrol. In 1741 she was commanded by Peter Law- 
rence, and in March of that year, she bore the flag of Sir 
Chaloner Ogle, at which time she composed one of the fleet of 



NOTES. 109 

Admiral Vernon, in his unsuccessful expedition against Car- 
thagena. In 1743 Harry Norris was appointed to her, who 
in 1744 was succeeded in command of her by Charles Hardy, 
subsequently Governor of New York. Under this officer she 
formed, in the following year, one of the Mediterranean fleet, 
under Vice-admiral Rowley. On the 26th of July, while on a 
cruise off Gibraltar, she fell in with the St. Esprit, a French 
ship of 74 guns. An engagement ensued, and lasted for 2 % 
hours, when the St. Esprit, being much damaged, was com- 
pelled to sheer off. The Jersey being also much crippled, was 
unable to pursue her, and accordingly put into Lisbon for 
repair. She subsequently served in the Mediterranean fleet, 
under Admiral Medley, and then returned home. In Oct., 
1748, the Jersey was reported as a hulk, and in 1755, after 
being put into repair at Chatham, and manned with a crew of 
420 men, she was placed under the orders of Sir William 
Burnaby, in anticipation of a rupture with France. In 1757 
John Barker was appointed to her, and under him she formed 
one of the Mediterranean fleet, under Henry Osborne, Admiral 
of the blue. In 1759 she composed one of the fleet of Admiral 
Boscawen, in his maneuvers against the French squadron, 
under M. de la Clue, and she was one of the three ships that 
made the unsuccessful attempt to cut away two of the enemy's 
vessels in the harbor of Toulon. About the latter part of the 
year Andrew Wilkinson was appointed to her, under whom 
she composed one of the Mediterranean fleet, under Vice- 
admiral Saunders, until near the termination of the war. In 



110 NOTES. 

1760 William Dickson was appointed to command her as cap- 
tain to Sir Richard Spry, who hoisted his flag on hoard, and 
continued in her as commander of a small squadron in the 
Mediterranean till 1768. In the following year she sailed 
from Plymouth for Newfoundland, taking the Hon. John 
Byron, the newly appointed Governor of that colony, as a 
passenger, and hearing his flag on hoard. She returned home 
at the end of the year and put into Chatham, where she was 
soon after fitted up as a hospital-ship. She was placed under 
the orders of Commander W. A. Ualstead, and sailed for 
America in the spring of 1776, as one of the squadron of Com- 
modore Hotham, arriving at Sandy Hook in the month of 
August. She subsequently was used for a short time as a 
store-ship, then employed again as a hospital-ship, and finally 
fitted up as a prison-ship, in which capacity she remained till 
the termination of the war, when she was broken up and sunk 
off the Long Island shore, near the site of the present navy 
yard. She was succeeded in the navy by a cutter of the same 
name, which was launched in 1860. 

For further particulars respecting her, the sufferings of the prisoners 
on board, etc., see " Adventures of Christopher Hawkins," etc., 
edited by Charles I. Bushnell. 8vo. pp. 316. N. Y., 1864. See also 
Appendix to the present volume. 

( 3 e) Capt. Benjamin Ellingwood was the great-grandson 
of Ralph Ellingwood, one of the first settlers of Beverly, Mass., 
and was the son of Ebenezer Ellingwood. His mother's 



KOTES. Ill 

maiden name was Elizabeth Corning. The subject of our 
sketch was born in Beverly, Aug. 16, 1753, and died in the 
"West Indies in the summer of 1792. The following is his 
genealogy, taken from the Town Eecords : 

Ralph Ellingwood, married Aug. 21, 1691. Had one son, viz. : 
Ebenezer Ellingwood, born Aug. 29, 1697. Married Sarah Tuck, 

March 23, 1719. Had one son, viz. : 
Ebenezer Ellingwood, born Oct. 30, 1719. Married Elizabeth Corning, 

May 24, 1744. Had one son, viz. : 
Benjamin Ellingwood, born Aug. 16, 1753. Married Ann Clark, 

Nov. 17, 1774. No children. He married Love Hilton, 

Aug. 8, 1779. No descendants living. 

( 37 ) Cape Ann, a promontory in Essex Co., Mass. It derives 
its name from Prince Charles, who gave it the name out of 
respect to his mother, Queen Ann, the consort of James 1st. 
Sandy Bay, now called Eockport, is on the north-easterly side 
of the Cape, about four miles from the South Harbor. 

( 38 ) John Blatciifokd, Senr., the father of our hero, was 
born in the southern part of England, about the year 1702. In 
1716, when the river Thames was frozen over, and when 
beeves were roasted and eaten on the ice, he was present with 
hundreds of men and boys. " After the gentlemen had finished 
their feast," as he himself used to say, " the boys were all 
bountifully supplied." At this time he called himself 14 years 
old. Some years after this remarkably cold winter, Mr. 
Blatchford came to Portsmouth, N. H., where he resided 



112 NOTES. 

several years, and then moved to Salem, Mass. He came to 
Gloucester, now Eockport, on Cape Ann, about 1754. Here, 
Jan. 7, 1755, lie married Eachel, daughter of Samuel and 
Elizabeth Clark, of that place. For many years preceding his 
death, Mr. Blatchford was very infirm, and bis wife being 
unable to take care of him, they went to live with their 
daughter Eachel. There Mrs. Blatchford died in the year 
1800. Mr. Blatchford continued residing with his daughter 
until 1809, when he died at the age of about 107 years. The 
following were the names of his children : 

1. Molly Married 1st. Mr. Craven. 2d. Joseph Tucker. 

2. Joiin " Anna, d. of Nehemiah and Betsey Grover. 

3. William Died young. 

4. Kaciiel " Nathaniel Foster, of Woolwich, Me. 

5. Samuel " Lydia, d. of Henry Clark, of Itockport. 

6. Nathaniel.. " Abigail Cleveland, of Gloucester. 

7. Henry " Hannah, d. of John and Anna Gamage, of Rockport. 

8. Jonathan. . . Died young. 

(39) We have stated that the maiden name of Mr. Blatch- 
ford's wife was Anna Grover. This lady was born in 17G6, 
and was the daughter of Nehemiah Grover, a farmer of Sandy 
Bay, now Eockport. Her mother, Betsey Grover, was the 
daughter of Nathaniel Gamage, by his wife Mary, daughter 
of Joshua Norwood. 

Mr. Blatchford died about the year 1794, leaving his widow 
surviving him. In the year 1800 she married Edward Big- 
gins, Jr., and he dying in 1805, she was again left a widow. 



NOTES. 113 

She supported herself and children by weaving, until the 
factories so affected the wheel and loom, that that trade 
became no longer remunerative. She then devoted a part of 
her time to nursing the sick, in which occupation she was held 
in great repute. She is represented as having been of an 
amiable disposition, of industrious habits, and possessed of 
many endearing qualities. She died on the fourth day of 
March, 1841, at the age of 75 years. 

Her children by Mr. Blatchford were as follows : 

Nancy born 1764 Died young. 

Rachel... " 178G married Francis Hilton, of Gloucester 

She is still living. 

William.. " 1788.... " 1st. Betsey Foster. 2d. Mrs. Mary 

Tarr, of Rockport. He died, Jan. 20, 1864. 

John " 1790 " Margaret Oakes Soper, of Rockport. 

He is still living. 

For the following additional particulars, we are indebted to the 
kindness of Miss Betsie F. Andrews, of Rockport, Mass. 

Eachel Blatchfokd, eldest child of John Blatchford and 
Anna (Grover) Blatchford, that arrived at maturity, was 
born in Rockport in 1786. Married Francis Ililton, of Glou- 
cester, who died at Rockport, 1812. Mrs. Hilton has since 
remained a widow, and is at this date (18G5) living with 
her daughter, Sarah, in Cambridge, Mass. Her children are 
as follows : 

1. Francis born 180G. .married, 1st, Mary Pew. 2d, Sarah Tappau. 

Still living in Gloucester. 



114 NOTES. 

2. Sarah born 1803. .married, 1st, DavidMellen. 2d, James Hilton. 

Still living in Cambridge. 

3. William... " 1810. .unmarried Died. 

4. IsaacTull. " 1810. .married, 1st, Ehoda Poole. He died and his 

widow married Chas. Marchant, who died. 

William Blatchfohd, brother of the preceding, was born 
in Rockport, 1788; married (1814), 1st, Betsey Foster, 
daughter of Nathaniel and Rachel Foster, of Rockport, who 
died, Jan., 1831. 2d, (1833) Mary Tarr, widow of Robert 
Tarr, and daughter of George and Sally Gott, all of Rockport. 
"William Blatchford was a resident of Rockport, and was a 
very enterprising seaman. In 1799, when only 11 years of 
age, he served on board the " Congress." When past 70 
years old, he received a land warrant for that service. He 
died, Jan. 20, 1864. His children were — 

By his first marriage. 

1. Caroline Preble, .born June 20, 1815 Died young. 

2. William " July 17, 1817. .married Ellen Eeid, of Pat- 

erson, N. J. 

3. Mary Pollard ... . " Feb. 22, 1819. . " Charles Nute, of 

Dover, N. H. 

4.John " Aug.13,1821.. " Lydia White, of 

Casco, Me. 

5. A Daughter " July 15, 1823. . Died an infant. 

6. Nancy G " Sept. 5, 1825. . " John Pittee. 

7. Elizabeth " Sept. 8, 1827. . " Daniel Merrill, of 

Buxton, Me. 

8. Dudley Choate ... " Dec. 12, 1829. . " Mary Ann Babson, 

of Bockport. 

9. Nathaniel Foster. " Nov. 29, 1831. . " Mary Findlay. 



NOTES. 115 

By his second marriage. 

1. Benjamin Franklin, .born Jan. 1835. .married Emily Snow. He 

served in the War for the Union in 
2d Mass. Artillery, and was promoted 
1st lieut. for gallant conduct. 

2. Lucy Sanborn " Sept. 8,1838 Died young. 

3. Louisa Foster " Nov. 29, 1841. . .married Henry Martin 

Lowe, of Rockport, who served in 
the War for the Union. 

Capt. Jonx Blatciiford, brother of the preceding, and the 
youngest of the children of John Blatchford, and Anna his wife, 
was horn in Rockport, 1790 ; married, 1809, Margaret Oakes, 
daughter of Benjamin Soper. Mr. and Mrs. Blatchford are 
still living in Rockport, in the State of Massachusetts. Their 
children are as follows : 

1. Charlotte Foster born Dec. 1, 1809. .married, 1st, Lemuel 

Norwood, keeper of the 
"Light" on Eastern Point, 
Gloucester. 2d, Daniel Nor- 
wood, of Gloucester. 

2. Margaret Oakes born Dec. 16, 1811. .married William Thurs- 

ton, of llockport. 

3. John " Oct. 15,1812 Died young. 

4. Sally Foster " Apl. 21, 1814. .married John Hoble, of 

Eockport. 

5. Caroline Treble " Apl. 2S, 1817. .married Benjamin Soper 

Marshall, Jr., of llockport. 
G. Mary Choate " Feb. 4, 1821.. married Albert Giddings 

Hale. 
7. Sophia Andrews " Oct. 5,1823 Died young. 



116 



NOTES. 



8. Nancy Tarr born July 2G, 1826. .married James Munroe 

Montgomery, of Boothbay, Me. 
O.John " Oct. 15, 1827 Died young. 

10. Zelinda Goss " Aug. 26, 1828. .married Benjamin Reed 

Montgomery, of Boothbay, Me. 

11. Louisa Maria Mei.len. " Dec. 11, 1833. .married David Parsons 

Boynton, Jr., of Rockport, who 
served in Co. B, 50th Regt. 
Mass. Vols., in War for the 
Union, and died in Rockport, 
Nov. 3, 1863. 

12. Betsey Foster " Mar. 11, 1836. .married John Edmunds, 

of Bockport. 




APPENDIX. 



The DESTRUCTIVE OPERATION Of FOUL AlE, TAINTED PRO- 
VISIONS, bad "Water, and personal Filthiness, upon human 
Constitutions ; exemplified in the unparalleled Cmelty of the 
British to the American Captives at New-York during the 
Revolutionary War, on Board their Prison and Hospital 
Ships. By Captain Alexander Coffin, Jun., one of the sur- 
viving Sufferers: In a Communication to Dr. Mitciiill, 
dated September 4, 1S07. 

SHALL furnish you with au account of the 
treatment that I, with other of my fellow 
citizens received on board the Jersey and John 
prison ships; those monuments of British 
barbarity and infamy. I shall give you nothing but a plain 
simple statement of facts that cannot be controverted. And 
I begin my narrative from the time of my leaving the South- 
Carolina frigate. 

In June, 1782, I left the above mentioned frigate in the 
Havanna, on board of which ship I had long served as a mid- 
shipman, and made several trading voyages. I sailed early in 
September from Baltimore for the Havanna, in a fleet of about 
forty sail, most of which were captured, and we among the 
rest, by the British frigate Ceres, Captain Hawkins, a man in 




118 APPENDIX. 

every sense of the word a perfect brute. Although our com- 
mander. Captain Hughes, was a very gentlemanly man, he was 
treated in the most shameful and abusive manner by said 
Hawkins, and ordered below to mess with the petty officers. 
Our officers were put in the cable-tier with the crew, and a 
guard placed at the hatchway to prevent more than two going 
on deck at a time, and that only for the necessary calls of 
nature. The provisions served out to us were of the very 
worst kind, and very short allowance even of that. They fre- 
quently gave us pea-soup, that is, pea-water, for the pease and 
tbe soup, all but about a gallon or two, were taken out for 
the ship's company, and the coppers filled up with water, and 
just warmed and stirred together, and brought down to us in 
a strap-tub. And, Sir, I might have defied any person on 
earth, possessing the most acute olfactory powers, and the 
most refined taste, to decide, either by one or the other, or 
both of those senses, whether it was pease and water, slush 
and water, or swill. After living and being treated in this 
way, subject to every insult and abuse for ten or twelve days, 
we fell in with the Champion British twenty-gun ship, which 
was bound to New York to refit, and were all sent on board 
of her. The Captain was a true seaman and a gentleman ; and 
our treatment was so different from what we had experienced 
on board the Ceres, that it was like being removed from pur- 
gatory to paradise. His name, I think, was Edwards. We 
arrived about the beginning of October at New-York, and were 
immediately sent on board the prison-ship in a small schooner 



APPENDIX. 119 

called, ironically enough, the Relief, commanded hy one 
Gardner, an Irishman. This schooner Relief plied between 
the prison-ship and New-York, and carried the water and 
provisions from the city to the ship. In fact, the said 
schooner might emphatically be termed the Relief for the 
execrable water and provisions she carried relieved many of 
my brave but unfortunate countrymen by death, from the 
misery and savage treatment they daily endured. Before I go 
on to relate the treatment we experienced on board the 
Jersey, I will make one remark, and that is, that if you were 
to rake the infernal regions, I doubt whether you could find 
such another set of daemons as the officers and men who had 
charge of the old Jersey prison-ship. And, Sir, I shall not be 
surprised if you, possessing those finer feelings which I believe 
are interwoven in the composition of man, and which are not 
totally torn from the piece, till, by a long and obstinate per- 
severance in the meanest, the basest, and cruelest of all human 
arts, a man becomes lost to every sense of honour, of justice, 
of humanity, and common honesty ; — I shall not be surprised, 
I say, if you, possessing those finer feelings, should doubt 
whether men could be so lost to their sacred obligations to 
their God, and the moral ties which ought to bind them to 
their duty toward their fellow men, as those men were, who 
had the charge, and also those who had any agency in the 
affairs of the Jersey prison-ship. On my arrival on board the 
old Jersey, I found there about eleven hundred prisoners; 
many of them had been therefrom three to six months, but few 



120 APPENDIX. 

lived over that time if they did not get away by some means or 
other. They were generally in the most deplorable situation, 
mere walking skeletons, without money, and scarcely clothes to 
cover their nakedness, and overrun with lice from head to foot. 
The provisions, Sir, that were served out to us was not more 
than four or five ounces of meat, and about as much bread, all 
condemned provisions from their ships of war, which no doubt 
were supplied with new in their stead, and the new in all pro- 
bability charged by the commissaries to the Jersey. They, 
however, knoic best about that ; and however secure they may 
now feel, they will have to render an account of that business 
to a Judge who cannot be deceived. This fact, however, I can 
safely aver, that both the times that I was confined on board 
the prison-ship, there never were provisions served out to the 
prisoners that would have been eatable by men that were not 
literally in a starving situation. The water that we were 
forced to use was carried from this city ; and I positively 
assert, that I never, after having followed the sea thirty years, 
had on board of any ship), (and I have been three years on some 
of my voyages) water so bad as that we were obliged to use on 
board the old Jersey ; when there was, as it were to tantalize 
us, as fine water, not more than three cables length from us, at 
the mill in the Wallabout, as was perhaps ever drank. 

There were hogs kept in pens on the gun-deck by the officers 
of the prison-ship for their own use ; and I have seen the 
prisoners watch an opportunity, and with a tin pot steal the 
bran from the hogs' trough, and go into the galley, and when 



APPENDIX. 121 

they could get an opportunity, boil it on the fire, and eat it as 
you, Sir, would eat of good soup when hungry . This I have 
seen more than once, and there are those noio living beside me 
who can bear testimony to the same fact. There are many 
other facts equally abominable that I could mention, but the 
very thought of those things brings to my recollection scenes 
the most distressing. "When I reflect how many hundreds of 
my brave and intrepid brother- seamen and countrymen I have 
seen in all the bloom of health, brought on board of that ship, 
and in a few days numbered with the dead, in consequence of 
the savage treatment they there received ; I can but adore my 
Creator that he suffered me to escape ; but I did not escape, 
Sir, without being brought to the very verge of the grave. 
This was the second time I was on board, which I shall men- 
tion more particularly hereafter. Those of us who had money 
fared much better than those who had none. I had made out 
to save, when taken, about twenty dollars, and with that I 
could buy from the bumboats that were permitted to come 
along side, bread, fruit, &c, but, Sir, those bumboatmen were 
of the same kidney with the officers of the Jersey ; we got 
nothing from them without paying through the nose for it, and 
I soon found the bottom of my purse ; after which I fared no 
better than the rest. I was, however, fortunate in another 
respect ; for after having been there about six weeks, two of 
my countrymen, (I am a Nantucket man) happened to come to 
New- York to endeavour to recover a whaling sloop that had 
been captured, with a whaling licence from Admiral Digby ; 



122 APPENDIX. 

and they found means to procure my release, passing me for a 
Quaker, to which I confess I had no pretensions further than 
my mother being a member of that respectable society. Thus, 
Sir, I returned to my friends fit for the newest fashion, after 
an absence of three years. For my whole wardrobe I carried 
on my back, which consisted of a jacket, shirt, and trousers, a 
pair of old shoes, and a handkerchief served me for a hat, and 
had more than two months, for I lost my hat the day we were 
taken, from the main-top-gallant-yard, furling the top-gallant- 
sail. My clothes, I forgot to mention, were completely laced 
with locomotive tinsel, and moved, as if by instinct, in all 
directions ; but as my mother was not fond of such company, 
she furnished me with a suit of my father's, who was absent 
at sea, and condemned my laced suit for the benefit of all 
concerned. 

Being then in the prime of youth, about eighteen years of 
age, and naturally of a roving disposition, I could not bear the 
idea of being idle at home. I therefore proceeded to Provi- 
dence, Rhode Island, and shipping on board the brig Betsey 
and Polly, Captain Kobert Folger, bound for Virginia and 
Amsterdam, we sailed from Newport early in February, 1783 ; 
and were taken five days after off the capes of Virginia, by the 
Fair American privateer, of this port, mounting sixteen sixes, 
and having eighty-five men, commanded by one Burton, a 
refugee, most of whose officers were of the same stamp. We 
were immediately handcuffed two and two, and ordered into 
the hold in the cable-tier. Having been plundered of our 



APPENDIX. 123 

beds and bedding, the softest bed we had was the soft side of 
a water cask and the coils of a cable. The Fair American 
haying been handsomely dressed by an United States vessel of 
one half of her force, was obliged to put into New- York, then 
in possession of the British enemy, to refit ; and we arrived 
within the Hook about the beginning of March, and were put 
on board a pilot boat and brought up to this city. The boat 
hauled along side of the Crane-wharf, where we had our irons 
knocked off, the marks of which I carry to this day ; and were 
put on board the same schooner Belief mentioned in a former 
part of this narrative, and sent up once more to the prison- 
ship. It was just three months from my leaving the old Jersey, 
to my being again a prisoner on board of her ; and on my 
return I found but very few of those whom I had left three 
months before ; some had made their escape ; some had been 
exchanged; hut the greater part had taken up their abode 
tender the surface of that hill which you can see from your 
windows, where their bones are mouldering to dust, and 
mingling with mother earth; a lesson to Americans, written in 
capitals, on British cruelty and injustice. I found, on my 
return on board the Jersey, more prisoners than when I left 
her ; and she being so crowded, they were obliged to send about 
two hundred of us on board the John, a transport ship of about 
three hundred tons. There we were treated worse, if possible, 
than on board the Jersey ; and our accommodations were infi- 
nitely %oorse,for the Jersey being an old condemned sixty-four 
gun ship, had two tier of ports fore and aft, airports and large 



124 APPENDIX. 

hatchicays, which gave a pretty free circulation of air through 
the ship ; whereas the John "being a merchant ship, and with 
small hatchways, and no ports, and the hatches laid doion every 
night, and no man allowed during the night to go on deck, all 
exonerations were of course made below ; the effluvia arising 
from these, together with the already contaminated air occa- 
sioned by the breath of so many people so pent up together, 
was enough to destroy men of the most healthy and robust 
constitutions. All the time' I was on board this ship not 
a prisoner eat his allowance, bad as it was, cooked, more than 
three or four times ; but eat it raw as it came out of the barrel. 
These, /Sir, are stubborn facts that cannot be controverted. 
In the middle of this ship, between decks, was raised a plat- 
form of boards about two and a half feet high, for those 
prisoners to sleep on who had no hammocks. On this they 
used frequently to sit and play at cards to pass the time. One 
night in particular, several of us sat to see them play till about 
ten o'clock, and then retired to our hammocks, and left them 
playing ; about one A. M. we were called and told that one 
Bird was dying ; we turned out and went to where he lay, 
and found him just expiring. Thus, at ten P. M. this young 
man was apparently as well as any of us, and at one A. M. had 
paid the debt to nature. Many others went off in the same 
way. It will perhaps be said that men may die suddenly any 
where. True ; but do they die suddenly any where from the 
same cause? After all these things, it is, I think, impossible 
for the mind to form any other conclusion than that there was 



APPENDIX. 125 

a premeditated design to destroy as many Americans as they 
could on board of their prison-ships; the treatment of the 
prisoners warrants the conclusion ; but it is mean, base and 
cowardly, to endeavour to conquer an enemy by such infamous 
means, and truly characteristic of base and cowardly wretches. 
The truly brave will always treat their prisoners well. There 
Avere two or three hospital ships near the prison ships ; and 
so soon as any of the prisoners complained of being sick, they 
were sent on board of one of them ; and I verily believe that 
not one out of a hundred ever returned or recovered. I am 
sure I never knew but one to recover. Almost (and in fact I 
believe I may safely say) every morning a large boat from each 
of the hospital ships went loaded with dead bodies, which were 
all tumbled together into a hole dug for the purpose, on the hill 
inhere the national navy-yard now is. A singular affair hap- 
pened on board of one of those hospital-ships, and no less true 
than singular. All the prisoners that died after the boat with 
the load had gone ashore, were sewed up in hammocks, and 
left on deck till the next morning. As usual, a great number 
had thus been disposed of. In the morning, while employed 
in loading the boat, one of the seamen perceived motion in one 
of the hammocks, just as they were about launching it down 
the board placed for that purpose from the gunwale of the 

ship into the boat, and exclaimed, D n my eyes, that fellow 

is not dead ; and, if I have been rightly informed, and I believe 
I have, there was quite a dispute between this man and the 
others about it. They swore he was dead enough, and should 



126 APPENDIX. 

go into the boat; he swore he should not be launched, as they 
termed it, and took his knife and ripped open the hammock, 
and behold ! the man was really alive. There had been a 
heavy rain during the night, and as the vital functions had 
not totally ceased, but were merely suspended in consequence 
of the main spring being out of order, this seasonable moisten- 
ing must have given tone and elasticity to the great spring, 
which must have communicated to the lesser ones, and put 
the whole machinery again in motion. You know better 
about these things than I do, and can better judge of the 
cause of the re-animation of this man from the circumstances 
mentioned. He was a native of Rhode-Island ; his name was 
Gavot. He went to Rhode-Island in the same flag of truce 
with me about a month afterwards. I felt extremely ill, but 
made out to keep about till I got home (my parents then lived 
on the island of Nantucket) ; was then taken down, and lay 
in my bed sis weeks in the most deplorable situation ; my 
body was swelled to a great degree, and my legs were as big 
round as my body now is, and affected with the most excruci- 
ating pains. "What my disorder was I will not pretend to say ; 
but Dr. Tupper, quite an eminent physician, and a noted tory, 
who attended me, declared to my mother that he knew of 
nothing that would operate in the manner that my disorder 
did but poison. For the truth of this I refer to my father and 
brothers, and to Mr. Henry Coffin, father to Captain Peter 
Coffin, of the Manchester Packet of this port. 
Thus, Sir, in some haste, without much attention to order 



APPENDIX. 127 

or diction, I have given you part of the history of my life and 
sufferings ; but I endeavoured to bear them as became an 
American. And I must mention, before I close, to the ever- 
lasting honour of those unfortunate Americans who were on 
board the Jersey prison-ship, that notwithstanding the savage 
treatment they received, and death staring them in tbe face, 
every attempt (which was very frequent) that the British 
made to persuade them to enter on board their ships of war 
or in their army, was treated with the utmost contempt ; and 
I never knew, while I was on board, but one instance of 
defection, and that person was hooted at and abused by the 
prisoners till the boat was out of hearing. The patriotism in 
preferring such treatment, and even death in its most frightful 
shapes, to the serving the British, and fighting against their 
own country, has seldom been equalled, certainly never 
excelled. And if there be no monument raised with hands 
to commemorate the virtue of those men, it is stamped 
in capitals on the heart of every American acquainted with 
their merit and sufferings, and will there remain so long as the 
blood flows from its fountain. 

Medical Repository, Vol. xi., or Vol. v. of2dHexadc,pp. 260-207. 



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